serve 1 S1 W1 / sɜv $ sɜrv / 动词
1 food/drink [不及物和及物动词] to give someone food or drink, especially as part of a meal or in a restaurant, bar etc :
The waiter was serving another table.
Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.
serve something with something
Serve the soup with crusty bread.
serve breakfast/lunch/dinner
Breakfast is served until 9 am.
serve something to somebody
Meals can be served to you in your room.
serve something hot/cold etc
Teacakes should be served hot with butter.
2 serve two/three/four etc (people) if food serves two, three etc, there is enough for that number of people
3 shop [不及物和及物动词] to help the customers in a shop, especially by bringing them the things that they want :
There was only one girl serving customers .
4 be useful/helpful [不及物和及物动词] to be useful or helpful for a particular purpose or reason
serve as
The sofa had to serve as a bed.
The reforms served as a model for the rest of the Communist world.
A large cardboard box will serve the purpose .
Her talent for organization should serve her well .
serve the needs/interests of somebody/something
research projects that serve the needs of industry
5 do useful work [不及物和及物动词] to spend a period of time doing useful work or official duties for an organization, country, important person etc
serve as
Lord Herbert served as ambassador to France.
serve in the army/air force/navy etc
He returned to Greece to serve in the army.
serve on
Ann serves on various local committees.
the women who served their country in the war
6 have an effect [不及物动词] formal to have a particular effect or result
serve as
Her death should serve as a warning to other young people.
serve to do something
A single example serves to illustrate what I mean.
7 provide something [及物动词，通常被动态] to provide an area or a group of people with something that is necessary or useful :
Paris is served by two airports.
8 prison [及物动词] to spend a particular period of time in prison :
He served an 18-month sentence for theft.
Did you know that Les is serving time (= is in prison ) ?
9 sport [不及物和及物动词] to start playing in a game such as tennis or volleyball by throwing the ball up in the air and hitting it over the net
10 it serves somebody right spoken used to say that you think someone deserves something unpleasant that happens to them, because they have been stupid or unkind :
‘She kicked me!’ ‘It serves you right, teasing her like that.’
11 serve an apprenticeship to learn a job or skill by working for a particular period of time for someone who has a lot of experience
12 serve a summons/writ etc to officially send or give someone a written order to appear in a court of law
→ if my memory serves me (right/well/correctly) at memory ( 1 )
serve something ↔ out 短语动词
1 to complete a particular period of time in prison or doing a job :
Dillon’s almost served out his sentence (= in prison ) .
The Senator’s illness means he may not serve out his term .
2 British English to put food onto plates :
Serve out the rice, will you?
serve something ↔ up 短语动词
to give food to someone as part of a meal :
What are you serving up tonight?