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REFERENCE

serve

v. · n.
US //ˈsɝv// UK //sˈɜːv// serve
  1. 1 to help customers (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to help customers in a shop, restaurant, or bank.

    to attend to a customer's needs in a commercial or professional setting.

    Example

    The clerk was busy serving another customer when I walked into the store.

    Example

    The boutique prides itself on serving high-net-worth clients with a level of discretion that larger department stores cannot match.
  2. 2 to provide food or drink (v.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The chef recommends serving the venison with a reduction of red wine and juniper berries to complement the gamey flavour.
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  1. 3 to work for an organisation (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Military

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    She served with distinction on the regional council for three consecutive terms before pursuing a career in national politics.
    • work for
    • be employed by
  2. 4 to be useful (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be useful or helpful for a particular purpose.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The preliminary report will serve as a foundation for the more detailed environmental impact study scheduled for next year.
  3. 5 to spend time in prison (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    to spend a specific amount of time in prison.

    to undergo a period of imprisonment as a legal penalty.

    Example

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

    Example

    The defendant was sentenced to serve ten years, though he may be eligible for parole after completing two-thirds of that time.
  4. 6 to deliver legal papers (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    Process servers often face significant challenges when attempting to serve individuals who are actively evading legal proceedings.
  5. 7 to look very good (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    to look very stylish or attractive.

    to present an exceptionally attractive or stylish personal appearance.

    Example

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

    Example

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

    Teacher's tip

    This is a modern slang use often found in fashion and LGBTQ+ contexts; it is very informal.
  6. 8 starting a game (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The match turned in his favour once he regained his confidence and began landing his first serve with consistent accuracy.
  7. 9 a portion of food (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Dialect Cooking

    an amount of food for one person.

    a portion of food or drink intended for one person.

    Example

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

    Example

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

    Teacher's tip

    In American English, 'serving' or 'portion' is much more common than 'serve' for food.
Origin

From Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin serviō (“be a slave; serve”), from Latin servus (“slave; servant”), which perhaps derives from Etruscan (compare Etruscan proper names 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌉 (servi), 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌄 (serve)), or from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“watch over, protect”).

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