serve

A2 · Elementary Cooking

v. to give food or drink to someone, especially during a meal.

v. to provide or distribute food or drink to guests or customers.

日本語:出す※

“They serve breakfast in the hotel dining room until ten o'clock.”

“The chef recommends serving the venison with a reduction of red wine and juniper berries to complement the gamey flavour.”

B1 · Intermediate Military

v. to work for a particular organisation, especially the military or the government.

v. to perform duties for a sovereign, state, or organisation, particularly in a military or official capacity.

日本語:勤める※

Español:servir

“My grandfather served in the navy for twenty years before he retired.”

“She served with distinction on the regional council for three consecutive terms before pursuing a career in national politics.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to be useful or helpful for a particular purpose.

v. to be functional or adequate for a specific purpose or requirement.

“This old wooden crate can serve as a coffee table for now.”

“The preliminary report will serve as a foundation for the more detailed environmental impact study scheduled for next year.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Law

v. to spend a specific amount of time in prison.

v. to undergo a period of imprisonment as a legal penalty.

“He had to serve three years in prison for his role in the robbery.”

“The defendant was sentenced to serve ten years, though he may be eligible for parole after completing two-thirds of that time.”

C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical

v. to officially give someone a legal document, like a summons to go to court.

v. to deliver a legal notice or writ to a person so that they are officially informed of a legal action.

“The lawyers finally managed to serve him with the divorce papers yesterday.”

“Process servers often face significant challenges when attempting to serve individuals who are actively evading legal proceedings.”

C1 · Advanced Slang · Informal

v. to look very stylish or attractive.

v. to present an exceptionally attractive or stylish personal appearance.

“She is really serving in that new outfit she bought for the party.”

“The drag queen walked onto the stage and was absolutely serving, captivating the entire audience with her elaborate costume.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports

n. the act of hitting the ball to start a point in games like tennis.

n. the act or manner of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play in court games.

“Her serve is so fast that most players cannot even touch the ball.”

“The match turned in his favour once he regained his confidence and began landing his first serve with consistent accuracy.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Cooking British English · Dialect

n. an amount of food for one person.

n. a portion of food or drink intended for one person.

“That is a very large serve of chips for just one person.”

“The restaurant offers a standard serve of vegetables with every main course at no additional charge.”