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

Twenty seven of those put under surveillance were simultaneously monitored by EYP, including serving ministers and senior military officers.

From BBC

"You were a serving police officer. Your offending must have been abundantly obvious to you."

From BBC

Etoria had "transformed his life" while serving a 25-year prison sentence for murder and reintegrated into American society, when he was deported and imprisoned again in Eswatini without due process, the Legal Aid Society society.

From BBC

The other two charges relate to times when he was serving as president of the Philippines, between 2016 and 2022, and launched his so-called war on drugs.

From BBC

He has made multiple stops as a defensive coordinator in college and the NFL, serving in that capacity at Holy Cross, the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dollop 
• plate