{
    "term": "serve",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "serve",
            "heSheIt": "serves"
        },
        "pastSimple": "served",
        "pastParticiple": "served",
        "ingForm": "serving"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to give somebody food or drink, for example at a restaurant or during a meal",
            "sensetop": "serve (something)serve something with somethingserve something to somebodyserve somebody with somethingserve somebody somethingserve something + adj.",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m.",
                    "contextForm": "serve (something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "When do you stop serving hot food?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Shall I serve?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Serve the lamb with new potatoes and green beans.",
                    "contextForm": "serve something with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They served a wonderful meal to more than fifty delegates.",
                    "contextForm": "serve something to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The delegates were served with a wonderful meal.",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody with something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She served us a delicious lunch.",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The quiche can be served hot or cold.",
                    "contextForm": "serve something + adj."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Cover and chill the salad until ready to serve."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Serve chilled."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Serve with rice or potatoes."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Cooking and eating"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["immediately"],
                "verb + serve": ["be ready to"],
                "preposition": ["to", "with"],
                "phrases": [
                    "dinner is served",
                    "serve something chilled",
                    "serve something cold"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to be enough for somebody/something",
            "sensetop": "serve somebody/something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This dish will serve four hungry people."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to help a customer or sell them something in a shop",
            "sensetop": "serve (somebody)",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Are you being served?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The bar staff spend more time chatting to friends than serving customers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was serving behind the counter."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Shopping"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to be useful to somebody in achieving or satisfying something",
            "sensetop": "serve something/somebody",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "These experiments **serve** no useful **purpose**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Most of their economic policies **serve the interests** of big business."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How can we best **serve the needs** of future generations?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Art **serves** an important **function** in our society."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His linguistic ability **served him well** in his chosen profession."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This old car has served me very well."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The story would be **better served** by slowing down a little."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["merely", "only", "simply"],
                "preposition": ["as"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to provide an area or a group of people with a product or service",
            "sensetop": "serve somebody/somethingserve somebody/something with something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The centre will serve the whole community.",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The town is **well served** with buses and major road links.",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody/something with something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to work or perform duties for a person, an organization, a country, etc.; to spend a period of time in a particular job",
            "sensetop": "serve as somethingserve under/with somebodyserve + adv./prep.serve somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He served as a captain in the army.",
                    "contextForm": "serve as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was elected to serve as secretary of the local party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to serve as president/director/chairman"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served in the White House under Joe Biden.",
                    "contextForm": "serve under/with somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She served in the medical corps.",
                    "contextForm": "serve + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His father **served with distinction** in the First World War."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He proudly **served his country** during the war.",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I wanted to work somewhere where I could **serve the community**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has already **served** two **terms** as mayor."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served a one-year apprenticeship."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served the family faithfully for many years *(= as a servant)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you ever served on a jury?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I currently serve on the Board of Directors."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served on active duty in the US Marine Corps."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He served with distinction in the First World War."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She served in the US military for six years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I shall continue to serve as a trustee."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has served in an advisory capacity for a number of groups."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["faithfully", "loyally", "well"],
                "verb + serve": ["continue to"],
                "preposition": ["as", "in", "on"],
                "phrases": [
                    "if memory serves you",
                    "if memory serves (you) correctly",
                    "if memory serves you right"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to be suitable for a particular use, especially when nothing else is available",
            "sensetop": "serve (as something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The sofa will serve as a bed for a night or two."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Declaration served primarily as a propaganda piece."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The texts ultimately serve as springboards for the artists' imagination."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The first chapter serves as a useful introduction to the subject."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "to have a particular effect or result",
            "sensetop": "serve as somethingserve to do something",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The judge said the punishment would serve as a warning to others.",
                    "contextForm": "serve as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The highly visible ruins **serve as a reminder** of the building's history."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are several women in the field who have **served as** role **models**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The attack was unsuccessful and **served only to** alert the enemy.",
                    "contextForm": "serve to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This only served to complicate the situation further."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Change, cause and effect"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["merely", "only", "simply"],
                "preposition": ["as"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "to spend a period of time in prison",
            "sensetop": "serve something",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "prisoners **serving** life **sentences**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She is **serving** two **years** for theft."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has **served time** *(= been to prison)* before."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Crime and punishment"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "to give or send somebody an official document, especially one that orders them to appear in court",
            "sensetop": "serve something (on somebody)serve somebody with something",
            "labels": "(law)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **serve a writ/summons** on somebody",
                    "contextForm": "serve something (on somebody)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to serve somebody with a writ/summons",
                    "contextForm": "serve somebody with something"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["immediately"],
                "verb + serve": ["be ready to"],
                "preposition": ["to", "with"],
                "phrases": [
                    "dinner is served",
                    "serve something chilled",
                    "serve something cold"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 11,
            "definition": "to start playing by throwing the ball into the air and hitting it",
            "sensetop": "serve something",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Who's serving?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She served an ace.",
                    "contextForm": "serve something"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to perform two roles or functions at the same time",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This device can pull double duty as a decent laptop and an adequate tablet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She deserves credit for serving double duty as a host and performer."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "if I remember correctly",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that something that has happened to somebody is their own fault and they deserve it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Left you, did she? It serves you right for being so selfish."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to support two different parties, principles, etc. at the same time",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːv/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serve__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːvz/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serves__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːvd/",
                "audio": "se/serve/served__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɜːvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serving__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːrv/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serve__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːrvz/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serves__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɜːrvd/",
                "audio": "se/serve/served__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/",
                "audio": "se/serve/serving__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave’."
}