释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024serve /sɜrv/USA pronunciation v., served, serv•ing, n. v. - to act as a servant to (another);
work for: [no object]The maid served in the kitchen.[~ + object]served his young master well. - to carry and distribute (food or drink) to (a person at a table): [~ + object]He served the food.[~ + object + object]The headwaiter served us our food.[no object]A good waiter serves without drawing attention to himself.[no object]She served at the church reception.
- to give assistance to;
be of use to:[~ + object]May I serve you? - to be suitable for (a purpose);
help: [no object]That cup will serve as a sugar bowl.[~ + object]This will serve our needs.[~ + to + verb (+ object)]This note will serve to explain my actions. - to go through a term of service for (something or someone), as a soldier, senator, etc.: [no object]served in the armed forces.[~ + object]served her country in the Gulf War.
- to go through (a term in prison):[~ + object]had to serve six years in prison.
- Sport(in tennis, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play with a stroke or hit: [no object]served first to start the match.[~ + object]served the first ball out of bounds.
- Religionto attend the priest at (mass): [no object]The altar boy served at the 12:30 mass.[~ + object]The altar boy served the 12:30 mass.
- to give active service or obedience to (God, a sovereign, etc.): [no object]He served under the president well.[~ + object]"You have served me well,'' the king whispered to his chamberlain.
- to contribute to;
promote:[~ + object]to serve a cause. - Lawto give in a legal manner (a summons, process, etc.) to (someone): [~ + object]served his client with a warrant; served the warrant for the arrest of my client.[~ + object + object]served my client the warrant.
n. [countable] - the act or right of serving, as in tennis:Whose serve is it?
Idioms- Idioms serve (someone) right, to be someone's just punishment, as for improper behavior:It served her right to get caught; she was cheating all the time.
serv•er, n. [countable]See -serv-1. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024serve (sûrv),USA pronunciation v., served, serv•ing, n. v.i. - to act as a servant.
- to wait on table, as a waiter.
- to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests:Come early, we're serving at six.
- to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess:It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.
- to render assistance;
be of use; help. - to go through a term of service;
do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc. - to have definite use:This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
- to answer the purpose:That will serve to explain my actions.
- Sport(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
- to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
- Religion[Eccles.]to act as a server.
v.t. - to be in the service of;
work for. - to be useful or of service to;
help. - to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
- to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
- to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
- to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.):to serve his mayoralty.
- to answer the requirements of;
suffice:This will serve our needs for the moment. - to contribute to;
promote:to serve a cause. - to wait upon at table;
act as a waiter or waitress to. - to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
- to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink:May I serve you with some tea and cake?
- to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another:They served tea and cake to their guests.
- to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
- Sport(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
- to treat in a specified manner:That served him ill.
- Law
- to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
- to present (a person) with a writ.
- to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
- Animal Husbandry, Zoology(of a male animal) to mate with;
service. - to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
- Nautical, Naval Termsto wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
- serve one right, to treat one as one deserves, esp. to punish justly:It will serve you right if she never speaks to you again.
n. - the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.
- Latin servīre, equivalent. to serv(us) slave (compare serf) + -īre infinitive suffix
- Old French servir
- Middle English serven 1125–75
serv′a•ble, serve′a•ble, adj. - 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged aid, succor.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: serve /sɜːv/ vb - to be in the service of (a person)
- to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
- (in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
- (transitive) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc: she served her guests with cocktails
- to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc: do you serve coffee?
- (transitive) sometimes followed by up: to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner: cauliflower served with cheese sauce
- (transitive) to provide with a regular supply of
- (transitive) to work actively for: to serve the government
- (transitive) to pay homage to: to serve God
- to answer the requirements of; suit: this will serve my purpose
- (intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function: this wood will serve to build a fire
- to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
- (intransitive) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
- Also: service (transitive) (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
- to put (the ball) into play
- (transitive) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
- (transitive) to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc
- serve a person right ⇒ informal to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
n - short for service
- Austral a portion or helping of food or drink
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, from servus a slaveˈservable, ˈserveable adj |