ser‧vice 1 S1 W1 / sɜvəs, sɜvɪs $ sɜr- / 名词
1 official system/organization [可数名词] the official system for providing something, especially something that everyone in a country needs to have, or the official organization that provides it :
the health service
the postal service
the police service
the prison service
Workers in the emergency services (= the police, hospital, and the fire service ) are forbidden from striking.
There has been a decline in public services in recent years.
the essential services (= the police, hospitals, fire service, and organizations that provide basic things such as water, gas, or electricity ) → civil service , diplomatic Service , fire service , internal revenue service , national health service , secret service , security service
2 something provided by a company [可数名词] a particular type of help or work that is provided by a business to customers, but not one that involves producing goods :
A wide range of financial services are available.
provide/offer a service
Datapost offers a delivery service to over 160 countries.
Our aim is to provide the best service at the lowest price.
the supply of goods and services → service industry
3 in a shop/restaurant/bar [不可数名词] the help that people who work in a shop, restaurant, bar etc give you
good/bad/slow etc service
The service was terrible and so was the food.
customer service
At our bank, we insist on high standards of customer service .
Service is included in your bill (= the charge for paying the people who serve you is included ) . → room service , self-service , service charge
4 work [不可数名词] ( also services [复数形式] ) the work that someone does for a person or organization, especially over a long period
20/30 years etc of service
Brian retired after 25 years of service to the company.
a long service award
a career in public service (= work done for the public or the government )
services to somebody/something (= all the good work you have done for someone or something )
He received an award for services to sport.
5 work done for somebody services [复数形式] skilled work or advice from a particular type of worker who you use to help you do something
sb’s services/the services of somebody
Lydia obtained the services of a qualified nurse.
sb’s services as something
Why don’t you offer your services as a tennis coach?
6 duty jury/military/community etc service something that ordinary people can be asked to do as a public duty or as a punishment :
Her attacker was sentenced to 120 hours’ community service.
7 being used [不可数名词] used to talk about whether a piece of equipment, a vehicle etc is available to be used, or how long it can be used
in service (= being used or available to be used )
These trains have been in service for many years.
out of service (= not being used or not available to be used )
The escalator is out of service.
give good/excellent etc service (= work well and last a long time )
Steel tools give good service for years.
8 religious ceremony [可数名词] a formal religious ceremony, especially in church
hold/conduct a service
The service was held in the chapel.
marriage/funeral/christening etc service
a memorial service for the disaster victims
9 army the services British English the service American English a country’s military forces, especially considered as a job
join/go into the services
Maybe you should join the services.
Her son is in the services .
10 help [单数形式，不可数] formal help that you give to someone
be at sb’s service (= be available to help someone, or for someone to use )
My secretary is at your service.
be of service (to somebody) (= help someone )
Can I be of any service?
do somebody a service (= do something that will help someone )
He did her a service by telling her the truth.
11 checks on a car/machine [可数名词] an examination and repair of a machine or car to keep it working properly :
I’m getting the bus home – my car’s in for a service .
12 tennis/ball game [可数名词] an act of hitting a ball through the air in order to start a game, especially in tennis :
It’s your service.
13 on a motorway services [复数形式] British English a place near a motorway where you can stop and have a meal or drink, or buy food, petrol etc → service station :
How far is it to the next services?
14 plates/cups etc [可数名词] a set of plates, bowls, cups etc that match each other
15 bus/train/plane etc [可数名词，通常单数] British English a regular journey made by a bus, train, boat etc to a particular place at a particular time :
the 8:15 service to Cambridge
16 be in service/go into service British English to be working or start working as a servant in someone’s house, especially in the past → domestic service
17 legal document [不可数名词] formal when someone is given a legal document telling them that they must do something or that something is going to happen :
the service of a summons
18 for services rendered formal for work you have done or help you have given :
payment for services rendered
→ active service , lip service , → press somebody/something into service at press 2 ( 13 )