serving

American  

[sur-ving] / ˈsɜr vɪŋ /

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.

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adjective

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

   a serving tray.

serving British  

/ ˈsɜːvɪŋ /

noun

1. a portion or helping of food or drink

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Other Word Forms

• unserving adjective

Etymology

Origin of serving

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

Example Sentences

“This opportunistic real estate transaction does not impact our day-to-day operations. We remain committed to serving our loyal Beverly Hills customers.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tom Shearman, a serving police officer with Gloucestershire Constabulary, escaped the burning house and tried multiple times to re-enter to save his family.

From BBC

Their oaths to serving the Constitution and the people of the United States are treated as sacred, binding members to an ideology that leads to action.

From Salon

Maduro was at his side the rest of the way: serving in congress, then as foreign minister and vice president before Chávez, stricken with cancer, anointed him successor in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal

Brazil's Supreme Court allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred from federal police headquarters where he is serving his sentence to a hospital in the capital, Brasília, for the initial surgery.

From BBC

Related Words

• dollop
• plate