to serve
901
1.0
- verb
- /sɜrv/
- The waiter came to our table to serve us drinks and take our dinner orders.
- serve meals
- serve snacks
- serve fruit
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Watch on YouTubeBy the way, Trump Tower serves a mean sandwich.
- By the way, Trump Tower serves a mean sandwich.
- Did was there Turkey served at Nana's house?
- I mean, those things must be served before anything else.
- Now, when is it appropriate to serve something on fire?
- I had to rush home every noon to serve these eight people.
- There are only locals here, and they serve Cypriot Turkish coffee.
- The waiter who serves us is our kin.
- We don't just serve candy, we serve Luke's boy.
- You cut it, you serve it ice cream done.
- I love to find someone serving darker tacos.
Examples
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The stewards began serving shrimp cocktail and prime rib a little ahead of schedule.
Academic text (2012) -
This is a typical meal served to astronauts aboard Apollo space flights.
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And then you serve amazing food to us all.
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I mean, those things must be served before anything else.
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So what do we serve for lunch?
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If you are going to serve yourself something, you have your own glass and whatever.
Academic text (2008) -
And then at night you serve cheese and wine and wine.
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Three hot meals a day, all served in there.
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Breakfast will be served at 8:30 sharp.
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Buy an avocado every second day; and when you serve it, also include tomatoes, radishes, or cucumbers.
Academic text (2017)
Synonyms
67
7.1
Carry out a social duty like introducing guests or serving drinks
63
1.4
To give food or drink to people
52
3.4
To serve people at a table by bringing food or drinks
46
7.2
To serve or help someone, often as part of a job
39
3.4
To give out things to several people, often food or advice
30
3.1
Provide food and drinks at an event, usually as a paid service
3
2.2
To serve food onto plates for people to eat
Idioms
- Informal
35
7.3
A punishment that someone deserves because of their own wrong actions
4
8.2
To try to please two people or groups who want different things and fail to please either
Phrasal Verbs
21
3.2
To be a member of a country's army for work or because the law makes you
- Formal
10
6.5
To give someone an official written letter telling them about a change or end of an agreement
- Formal
1
4.1
To go with a person like an ambassador to protect or show respect
Compounds
How Extensive
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word serve comes from the old Latin root serv-, from servus meaning 'slave' or 'servant'. Think of a waiter or server who gives food to people, so to serve is to 'give' or 'offer' food or drink.