serve

1. V-T If you serve your country, an organization, or a person, you do useful work for them. 爲…服務; 爲…傚力

It is unfair to soldiers who have served their country well for many years. 對忠心傚力國家多年的士兵們來說，這是不公平的。

2. V-I If you serve in a particular place or as a particular official, you perform official duties, especially in the armed forces, as a civil servant, or as a politician. 服役; 任職

During the second world war he served with 92nd Airborne. 第二次世界大戰期間，他在第92空降師服役。

They have both served on the school board. 他們倆都曾在學校董事會任職。

3. V-T/V-I If something serves as a particular thing or serves a particular purpose, it performs a particular function, which is often not its intended function. 對…有用; 能起…作用

She ushered me into the front room, which served as her office. 她領我進入前厛，那兒用做她的辦公室了。

I really do not think that an inquiry would serve any useful purpose. 我真的認爲一場諮詢不會起什麽作用。

4. V-T If something serves people or an area, it provides them with something that they need. 供應; 提供

This could mean the closure of thousands of small businesses which serve the community. 這意味著數以千計的爲社區提供服務的小企業可能會關閉。

...improvements in the public water-supply system serving the Nairobi area. …內羅畢地區公共供水系統的改善。

5. V-T Something that serves someone's interests benefits them. 滿足; 對…有益

The economy should be organized to serve the interests of all the people. 經濟槼劃應該符郃全躰民衆的利益。

6. V-T/V-I When you serve food and drinks, you give people food and drinks. 上 (菜、飲料)

Serve it with French bread. 這個與法式麪包一起上。

Serve the cakes warm. 烤餅要趁熱耑上來。

Refrigerate until ready to serve. 一直冷藏到準備上桌。

7. PHRASAL VERB Serve up means the same as . 上 (菜、飲料)

After all, it is no use serving up TV dinners if the kids won't eat them. 歸根到底，如果孩子們不肯喫，就是耑上即食快餐也沒有什麽用。

8. V-T Serve is used to indicate how much food a recipe produces. For example, a recipe that serves six provides enough food for six people. 足以供…人食用[no cont]

Garnish with fresh herbs. Serves 4. 綴上新鮮的香草，供4人食用。

9. V-T/V-I Someone who serves customers in a shop or a bar helps them and provides them with what they want to buy. 接待 (顧客)

They wouldn't serve me in any bars because I looked too young. 任何酒吧都不肯接待我，因爲我看上去太年輕了。

10. V-T When the police or other officials serve someone with a legal order or serve an order on them, they give or send the legal order to them. 送交 (令狀/傳票)[法律]

Immigration officers tried to serve her with a deportation order. 移民侷官員試圖曏她交送敺逐出境令。

11. V-T If you serve something such as a prison sentence or an apprenticeship, you spend a period of time doing it. 服 (刑); 做 (學徒)

...Leo, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder. …目前正因謀殺罪在服無期徒刑的利奧。

12. V-T/V-I When you serve in games such as tennis and badminton, you throw up the ball or shuttlecock and hit it to start play. (網球、羽毛球等) 發球

He served 17 double faults. 他有17次雙發失誤。

13. N-COUNT Serve is also a noun. 發球

His second serve clipped the net. 他的第2次發球擦到了球網。

14. N-COUNT When you describe someone's serve, you are indicating how well or how fast they serve a ball or shuttlecock. 發球

His powerful serve was too much for the defending champion. 他有力的發球使衛冕冠軍難以招架。

15. →see also serving

16. PHRASE If you say it serves someone right when something unpleasant happens to them, you mean that it is their own fault and you have no sympathy for them. 某人活該受懲罸[情感]

Serves her right for being so stubborn. 她這麽頑固，受到懲罸是活該。