Englishfor English speakers
serve
Verb
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When you serve food or drink, you give it to somebody to eat or drink, especially as a host.
Shall I serve your drinks first?
Lunch is served from 11:00 until 3:00.
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If something serves (as something), it used or useful for a certain purpose.
This cup can serve as a holder for my paintbrushes.
This program has served as a model for smaller enterprises throughout the state.
His experiences during the war served as the basis for his book.
The area is served by a number of schools.
The law no longer serves the function it once did.
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When you serve (as something), you work.
John served in the army.
He served as the director of the company from 1992 until 2003.
He serves the king.
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If you serve time in prison, you stay there because you are a criminal.
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If you serve, in a game like tennis, you begin play by sending something like a ball over a net.
serve
Noun
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A serve in a game like tennis is the action beginning of play by sending something like a ball over a net.
Whose serve is it?
That was a great serve!
in
Preposition
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Used to show that something is inside something else.
The cat is in the box.
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Used to show that someone is at home, or is available.
Is John in?
The Doctor is now in.
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Used to show movement towards the inside.
The rain came in through the window.
a
Determinative
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A is used when the following word could be any of a certain type.
Compare "A book I saw on the shelf" and "The book I gave you yesterday".
a
Noun
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A is the first letter of the alphabet.
The letter "a" comes before "b".
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In some schools, an A is a very high grade.
Ron got an A on his earth science test.
dish
Noun
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Dishes are the flat round holder for food that we usually put on the table and eat off of.
There was a crash when the waiter dropped his tray of dishes on the floor.
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A dish is a particular kind of cooked or prepared food.
Last night she made a wonderful Indian dish that I had never eaten before.