serve

servir

Llevar o dar comida o bebida a alguien para que la consuma.

En inglés sencillo: To bring or give food or drinks to people so they can eat or drink them.

• We serve breakfast at eight.
• The waiter served us coffee.
• Is this dish served hot or cold?

Cómo se usa: serve someone something (They served us fresh bread.); serve something with something (Serve the soup with bread.)

Expresiones frecuentes: serve dinner, serve someone something, serve with something

servir

Ser útil para un fin concreto o cubrir una necesidad.

En inglés sencillo: To be useful for a particular purpose or meet a particular need.

• This box can serve as a table.
• The old bridge still serves a useful purpose.
• Her experience served her well in her new job.

Cómo se usa: serve as something (This room serves as an office.); serve to do something (The diagram serves to explain the process.)

Sinónimos: function

Expresiones frecuentes: serve as something, serve a purpose, serve someone well

servir, trabajar

Trabajar para una persona u organización, normalmente desempeñando una función concreta.

En inglés sencillo: To work for a person or organization, often in a particular role.

• She serves in the army.
• He served as mayor for ten years.
• My grandfather served the same family throughout his working life.

Cómo se usa: serve in something (He served in the navy for six years.); serve as something (She served as chair of the committee.); serve under someone (They served under an experienced commander.)

Sinónimos: work for

Expresiones frecuentes: serve in something, serve as something, serve the country

cumplir

Pasar un tiempo en prisión como castigo.

En inglés sencillo: To spend a period in prison as a punishment.

• He served two years in prison.
• She has already served half her sentence.
• How much time did they serve for the robbery?

Cómo se usa: serve time for something (He served time for theft.)

Expresiones frecuentes: serve time, serve a sentence, serve five years

sacar, servir

Iniciar la disputa de un punto, por ejemplo en tenis, golpeando la pelota hacia el rival.

En inglés sencillo: To start a point in a game such as tennis by hitting the ball to your opponent.

• It is your turn to serve.
• She served an ace to win the game.
• Who will serve first in the next set?

Expresiones frecuentes: serve the ball, serve first, serve an ace

notificar

Entregar oficialmente un documento legal que exige una respuesta o una actuación.

En inglés sencillo: To officially give someone a legal document that requires them to respond or take action.

• They served the court papers yesterday.
• A lawyer served her with a summons.
• The notice must be served on every tenant.

Cómo se usa: serve someone with something (The tenant was served with an eviction notice.); serve something on someone (They served the summons on him at work.)

Sinónimos: deliver

Expresiones frecuentes: serve a summons, serve notice, serve someone with something

saque, servicio

Golpe que inicia la disputa de un punto en juegos como el tenis.

En inglés sencillo: The shot that starts a point in a game such as tennis.

• It is your serve.
• Her powerful serve won the point.
• He missed both serves and lost the game.

Sinónimos: service

Expresiones frecuentes: first serve, powerful serve, your serve

look espectacular

Aspecto o actuación que llama la atención y provoca admiración.

En inglés sencillo: A striking look or performance that people admire.

• That outfit is a serve.
• Her red carpet look was a total serve.
• The dramatic makeup and silver boots were such a serve.

Expresiones frecuentes: such a serve, a total serve