serving

[sur-ving]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that serves.

2. a single portion of food or drink; helping.

3. Electricity.,  a layer of material, as jute yarn or tape, that is applied to the core or the exterior of a lead-covered cable and acts as a protective covering.

adjective

1. for use in distributing food to or at the table.

   a serving tray.

serving

/ ˈsɜːvɪŋ /

noun

1. a portion or helping of food or drink

Other Word Forms

• unserving adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of serving¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; serve + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

She spent 18 months serving a Spanish-speaking mission in Salmon, Idaho, where many ranch hands were seasonal employees from Latin America.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Vladimir Putin relies heavily on corruption and patronage, with oil and gas serving as key revenue streams.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It is the Thursday after Ricky Hatton died and the Cheshire Cheese pub in Gee Cross, one of the boxer's locals, is serving up drinks as regulars chat away.

Read more on BBC

The Hamas list is believed to include, among others, Abbas al Sayyed who is serving 35 life sentences plus 100 years for attacks, including one in 2002 that killed 35 Israelis celebrating Passover.

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Does making a free throw in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden require less concentration than serving for the match at Wimbledon?

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dollop 
• plate