/sɜ:v ||; sɝv/verb1 [T] to give food or drink to sb during a meal; to take an order and then bring food or drink to sb in a restaurant, bar, etc （在餐馆、酒吧等里）端上食物，上菜: Breakfast is served from 7.30 to 9.00 am. 早餐供应时间由早上7时30分到9时。
2 [T] (used about an amount of food) to be enough for a certain number of people （指一份食物）可供某数目的人用: According to the recipe, this dish serves four. 按照食谱，这道菜可供四个人吃。
3 [I,T] (in a shop) to take a customer's order; to give help, sell goods, etc （在商店里）接待顾客 · There was a long queue of people waiting to be served. 人们大排长龙等着接待。
4 [I,T] to be useful or suitable for a particular purpose 适合某种用途: The judge said the punishment would serve as a warning to others. 法官说，这惩罚将对别人起警告作用。It's an old car but it will serve our purposefor a few months. 这是一辆旧车，但还可以为我们派几个月用场。
5 [I,T] to perform a duty or provide a service for the public or for an organization （为公众或机构）履行义务，提供服务: During the war, he served in the Army. 战争期间，他在陆军服役。She became a nurse because she wanted to serve the community. 她当了护士，因为她想要为社会服务。
6 [T] to spend a period of time in prison as punishment. 在狱中服刑: He is currently serving a ten-year sentencefor fraud. 他因欺诈罪被判十年徒刑，现正在狱中服刑。
7 [I,T] (in tennis and similar sports) to start play by hitting the ball （网球及类似的体育运动）发球
first come, first served→
FIRST²
serve sb right used when sth unpleasant happens to sb and you do not feel sorry for him/her because you think it is his/her own fault （表示对某人的不幸不予同情）应由某人承担，活该:
‘I feel sick.’ ‘It serves you right for eating so much.’ “我想吐。”“你吃那么多，活该。”