to serve a (useful) purpose

  • 11serve your turn — serve your/its ˈturn idiom (BrE) to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time Main entry: ↑serveidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 12serve its turn — serve your/its ˈturn idiom (BrE) to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time Main entry: ↑serveidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 13serve — serve1 W1S1 [sə:v US sə:rv] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(food/drink)¦ 2 serve two/three/four etc (people) 3¦(shop)¦ 4¦(be useful/helpful)¦ 5¦(do useful work)¦ 6¦(have an effect)¦ 7¦(provide something)¦ 8¦(prison)¦ 9¦(sport)¦ 10 it …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 14serve — 1 verb 1 FOOD/DRINK (I, T) to give someone food or drink as part of a meal: What kind of wine should we serve? | serve sth with sth: Serve the dish with rice and a green salad. | serve sb: Why aren t you out there serving the guests? | serve sth… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 15serve — serve1 [ sɜrv ] verb *** ▸ 1 provide food/drink ▸ 2 do job ▸ 3 be used for purpose ▸ 4 help achieve something ▸ 5 spend time in prison ▸ 6 provide with something useful ▸ 7 help customers in store ▸ 8 officially give document ▸ 9 hit ball to… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 16serve — I UK [sɜː(r)v] / US [sɜrv] verb Word forms serve : present tense I/you/we/they serve he/she/it serves present participle serving past tense served past participle served *** 1) [intransitive/transitive] to provide food and drink for someone to… …

    English dictionary

  • 17serve — v. & n. v. 1 tr. do a service for (a person, community, etc.). 2 tr. (also absol.) be a servant to. 3 intr. carry out duties (served on six committees). 4 intr. a (foll. by in) be employed in (an organization, esp. the armed forces, or a place,… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 18serve — verb 1 give sb food or drink ADVERB ▪ immediately ▪ Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately. VERB + SERVE ▪ be ready to ▪ Cover and chill the salad until ready to serve …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 19serve — servable, serveable, adj. /serrv/, v., served, serving, n. v.i. 1. to act as a servant. 2. to wait on table, as a waiter. 3. to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we re serving at six. 4. to… …

    Universalium

  • 20serve — [c]/sɜv / (say serv) verb (served, serving) –verb (i) 1. to act as a servant. 2. to wait at table; hand food to guests. 3. to render assistance; help. 4. to go through a term of service; do duty as a soldier, sailor, councillor, juror, etc. 5. to …