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serve
★★★★
🇺🇸 /sˈɚv/
serve 的核心是“为某人或某事提供所需之物或发挥作用”；它还常用于体育中的发球，以及服役、履行义务等语境。
💡 记忆钩子
把 serve 想成“把东西送到需要它的位置”：服务是把帮助或食物送给别人，发球是把球送入比赛，某事“serve a purpose”则是为目标发挥作用；由此还可引申为服役、履行职责。
📝 学习建议
- 先掌握“提供服务或食物”“发球”和“发挥作用”三个核心义项，再学习法律、军队和俚语等专门用法。
- 不要把 serve 一律理解为“服务”；在体育中通常是“发球”，在表示作用时常译为“有助于、起到……作用”。
📖 中文释义
noun
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core 发球📖 在网球、羽毛球等比赛中，serve 是把球或羽毛球送入场内、开始这一回合的动作。💡 常用“谁的发球”“轮到某人发球”等结构，也可说“发球得分”。它是体育术语，不要把这里的 serve 理解成一般的“提供服务”。Whose serve is it?该谁发球了？
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common 一份食物或饮料📖 在澳大利亚英语中，serve 可以指一次吃用的食物或饮料份量，也就是“一份”。💡 通常放在数量或食物名称后面使用，表示一份或一客。这个义项带有澳大利亚英语色彩，其他英语变体中更常用表示“份量”的普通词。AustraliaThe recipe makes four serves.这个食谱能做四份。
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rare 惊艳的造型📖 在特定社群俚语中，serve 可指一个人以非常吸引人、令人印象深刻的外表出现。
serves
plural
verb
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core 为某人提供服务或物品📖 serve 的基本动作是把别人需要的帮助、服务、食物或饮料提供给他们；餐馆、机构和个人都可以 serve 某人。💡 常用“serve someone something”或“serve something to someone”表示给某人提供某物，也可直接接顾客、客户等对象。餐饮语境中不要误以为只能表示正式的“服务”，它也常表示“端上、供应”。personal transitiveThe restaurant serves fresh seafood every evening.这家餐馆每天晚上供应新鲜海鲜。She served the guests coffee.她给客人端上了咖啡。
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common 提供服务；起服务作用📖 不及物使用时，serve 可以表示某人工作、任职或为某个组织提供服务，重点是“处在服务他人的角色中”。💡 常见结构是“serve as + 职务或身份”，也可用“serve in + 组织或领域”。它比单纯的“工作”更强调承担服务、任职或职责，不一定表示下级服从。factive intransitive personalShe served as chair of the committee for two years.她担任这个委员会的主席两年。
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rare 以某种方式对待📖 较古旧的用法中，serve 可表示以某种方式对待某人。archaic transitive
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rare 追求或爱慕📖 古旧用法中，serve 可表示追求某人、做某人的恋人。archaic transitive
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common 对目标有效或有帮助📖 某件事 serve a purpose 或 serve an interest，意思是它能帮助实现某个目的或维护某种利益，也就是“发挥作用”。💡 常用“serve a purpose”“serve the interests of”等搭配，后面接目的、利益或需要。这里不是“为某人端东西”，而是抽象地表示“有助于、符合”。transitiveThis example serves to explain the main idea.这个例子有助于说明主要观点。
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common 起到某种作用📖 不及物使用时，serve 可以表示某件事起到提醒、警示或说明等作用。💡 常见结构是“serve to + 动词”，表示“起到……作用”。后面通常接作用或目的，不要把它误读成体育中的“发球”。intransitiveThe warning served to remind everyone to be careful.这则警告提醒了大家要小心。
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common 正式送达法律文件📖 在法律语境中，serve a document 是按照法律程序把文件送达某人，使对方被视为已经知悉。💡 常用“serve someone with a document”或“serve a warrant on someone”。这是法律术语，不只是普通的“把文件递给某人”。transitiveThe officers served him with a search warrant.警员依法向他送达了搜查令。
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core 发球📖 在网球、排球、乒乓球和羽毛球等运动中，serve 表示把球发出以开始或继续比赛；这是名词发球的动词形式。💡 可不及物地说“某人发球”，也可接球类或比赛对象。常见“serve first”“serve well”等说法，不能在此处译成一般的“服务”。intransitive transitiveShe serves first in today's match.她在今天的比赛中先发球。
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rare 使雌性动物受孕📖 在畜牧语境中，serve 可指雄性动物与雌性交配并使其受孕。transitive
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common 服兵役📖 serve in the military 或 serve in the army 表示在军队中服役。💡 通常用“serve in + 军队或部队”或“serve as + 军职”。这里强调履行军职，不是泛指为军队提供普通服务。intransitiveHer grandfather served in the navy.她的祖父曾在海军服役。
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rare 操作武器📖 军事语境中，serve a gun 等表示操作、操纵一件武器。transitive
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common 服刑📖 serve a sentence 或 serve time 表示服满法院判处的刑期。💡 常见结构是“serve + 刑期”或“serve time”，可接具体年数或表示监禁的名词。不要把它理解成“为刑期提供服务”，而应整体记作“服刑”。transitiveHe is serving a five-year sentence for fraud.他因欺诈罪正在服五年刑期。
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rare 缠绕保护绳缆📖 航海或绳索技术中，serve 可指把纱线紧密缠在绳索或缆绳外面，以防磨损或受天气影响。
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common 履行公共义务📖 serve a duty 表示履行被要求承担的公共职责，例如陪审员义务。💡 常见搭配有“serve on a jury”和“serve jury duty”。这里表示正式履行义务，不是泛指参加一次普通活动。transitiveI have to serve on a jury next month.我下个月必须担任陪审员。
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rare 出售或分发可卡因📖 毒品俚语中，serve 可指出售或分发快克可卡因。ambitransitive slang
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rare 展现惊艳外表📖 在特定社群俚语中，serve 可不及物地表示以非常时髦、迷人的形象出现。intransitive
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rare 展示吸引人的外表特征📖 同一类俚语中，serve 也可及物地表示展示某种特别吸引人的外表或身材特征。transitive
serves
present,singular,third-person
serving
participle,present
served
participle,past
served
past
📘 英文释义 (WordNet)
共 16 组
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
同义词集:
serve
service
his powerful serves won the game
下位: ace, fault, let, net ball
put the ball into play
同义词集:
serve
It was Agassi's turn to serve
上位: go, move
下位: ace
do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function;
同义词集:
serve
He served as head of the department for three years
She served in Congress for two terms
上位: do work, work
下位: act, caddie, caddy, function, officiate, represent, rotate, sit, staff
provide (usually but not necessarily food); ;
同义词集:
serve
serve up
dish out
dish up
dish
We serve meals for the homeless
She dished out the soup at 8 P.M.
The entertainers served up a lively show
上位: cater, ply, provide, supply
下位: plank
help to some food; help with food or drink
同义词集:
serve
help
I served him three times, and after that he helped himself
上位: cater, ply, provide, supply
mate with
同义词集:
serve
service
male animals serve the females for breeding purposes
上位: copulate, couple, mate, pair
下位: stand
deliver a warrant or summons to someone
同义词集:
serve
process
swear out
He was processed by the sheriff
上位: deliver
下位: rinse, subpoena, wash
do military service;
同义词集:
serve
She served in Vietnam
My sons never served, because they are short-sighted
上位: do work, work
work for or be a servant to; ; ; ;
同义词集:
serve
attend to
wait on
attend
assist
May I serve you?
She attends the old lady in the wheelchair
Can you wait on our table, please?
Is a salesperson assisting you?
The minister served the King for many years
上位: aid, assist, help
下位: fag, valet
be used by; as of a utility;
同义词集:
service
serve
The sewage plant served the neighboring communities
The garage served to shelter his horses
上位: function, go, operate, run, work
devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas; ;
同义词集:
serve
She served the art of music
He served the church
serve the country
上位: work
be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; ; ; ;
同义词集:
suffice
do
answer
serve
A few words would answer
This car suits my purpose well
Will $100 do?
A `B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school
Nothing else will serve
上位: fulfil, fulfill, live up to, satisfy
下位: function, measure up, qualify
contribute or conduce to
同义词集:
serve
The scandal served to increase his popularity
上位: effect, effectuate, set up
下位: facilitate, help
promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to; ; ;
同义词集:
serve
serve well
Art serves commerce
Their interests are served
The lake serves recreation
The President's wisdom has served the country well
上位: foster, nurture
serve a purpose, role, or function; ; ; ;
同义词集:
serve
function
The tree stump serves as a table
The female students served as a control group
This table would serve very well
His freedom served him well
The table functions as a desk
上位: answer, do, suffice
下位: prelude
spend time in prison or in a labor camp
同义词集:
serve
do
He did six years for embezzlement
上位: pass, spend
下位: admit
🌳 词源
源自中古英语和古法语，最终与拉丁语中表示“奴隶、仆人”和“服侍”的词有关。
From Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin serviō (“be a slave; serve”), from Latin servus (“slave; servant”), which perhaps derives from Etruscan (compare Etruscan proper names 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌉 (servi), 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌄 (serve)), or from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“watch over, protect”).
🔄 变式
served
past
serves
plural
serving
present
🏷 单词标签 & 词根