2 to help achieve something or to be useful as something:
An official investigation would not serve any useful purpose.
The judge said that the fine would serve as a warning to other drivers.
In the absence of anything better the settee could serve as a bed for a couple of nights.
[ + to infinitive ] Nothing serves to explain the violent fighting we have seen recently.
You're growing and changing, so your "stick with it" motto may not be serving you well.
3 to provide with something that is needed:
The report says the police are out of touch with the communities that they serve.
4 in a shop, restaurant, or hotel, to deal with a customer by taking their order, showing or selling them goods, etc.:
UK Are you being served, madam?
US Have you been served, ma'am?
That's the restaurant where they refused to serve John because he was so rude.
6 in sports such as tennis, to hit the ball to the other player as a way of starting the game:
7 to give a legal document to someone, demanding that they go to a law court or that they obey an order:
8 in sports such as tennis, the act of hitting the ball to the other player to start play:
9 (esp. of a person working in a restaurant or store) to help a customer by getting what someone needs or by showing or selling goods, or to provide food or drinks to a customer or guest:
13 (in tennis and other sports) to hit the ball to the other player or team as a way of starting play
14 (in tennis and other sports) the act of hitting the ball to the other player or team to start play :
He's got a powerful serve.
15 to provide people or a place with products or services or something that is needed:
16 to help achieve something or to be useful as something:
serve to do sth The new procedures serve to stop economic growth.
The phone application needs to serve a purpose.
17 in a shop, restaurant, or hotel, to deal with a customer by taking their order, showing or selling them goods, etc.:
19 to spend time doing a job, training for a job, or having a responsibility:
serve as sth He became a city commissioner and went on to serve as mayor.
After serving an apprenticeship with his father, he received a scholarship to study in Italy.
20 to give a legal document to someone, demanding that they go to a court of law or that they obey an order:
He served for eight years as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Police officers aren't usually allowed to be serve on a jury.
Panellists on the Arts Review Board serve for a maximum of three years.
中文繁体
提供食物/飲料, 提供(食物或飲料), 工作…
More中文简体
提供食物/饮料, 提供(食物或饮料), 工作…
MoreEspañol
servir (comida o bebida), atender, servir…
MorePortuguês
servir, cumprir…
More日本語
(~に)食事を出す, (客)に対応する, 接客する…
MoreTürk dili
hizmet etmek, servis yapmak, görev yapmak…
MoreFrançais
servir, exercer, être membre de…
MoreCatalan
servir (menjar o beguda), atendre, servir…
More