word-vault

{ "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’." }