serve
UK/sɜːv/US/sә:v/
NGSL 1kA2
Definitions
v.
To perform duties or work for a person, organization, or cause
为某人/组织/事业服务、效力
v.
To provide food or drink to someone
上（菜）、供应（饮食）
v.
To be useful or suitable for a purpose
起作用、合用（serve as / serve to）
v.
In tennis etc., to put the ball into play
（网球等）发球
n.
An act of hitting the ball to start play
发球（动作）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedStraight from Latin servīre 'to serve, be a slave.' The word still spans a wide range: serving a customer, serving in the army, a tool that serves a purpose. They all share one idea — doing what is needed for someone or something.
Root serv still carries 62 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.serve a purpose起到作用
- 2.serve as充当
- 3.serve customers服务顾客
- 4.serve in the army服兵役
- 5.serve a sentence服刑
Example Sentences
- 1.
She served the company loyally for over thirty years.
- 2.
Dinner is served from seven o'clock onwards.
- 3.
This old box now serves as a coffee table.
- 4.
He served two double faults before winning the game.