serving

serving — adjective

1. currently working in a professional role within the military, the police, or ano

1.形容詞B2
釋義

currently working in a professional role within the military, the police, or another uniformed public-service organisation.

例句

Colonel Asher is a serving officer who has spent over twenty years in the Singapore military.

serving + [military rank/role]

A retired general spoke to a group of serving soldiers at the military base.

同義詞
  • active

    broader; can describe military personnel on duty as well as general engagement

  • current

    neutral; works for any job without the military connotation

  • incumbent

    formal; only for elected or appointed officials

反義詞
  • former

    the opposite — no longer in the role

  • retired

    specific to those who have left a career, especially the military

文法句型

serving + [role noun]

serving + [military/police rank]

用法筆記

Only used before a noun (attributive position). Typically refers to military, police, fire, and other uniformed public-service roles. Not used for ordinary civilian jobs: 'a serving doctor' is uncommon; 'a practising doctor' is preferred.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle is a serving teacher.
✅My uncle is a practising teacher.
💡'serving' is only used for uniformed or official public-service roles, not civilian professions.

2. designed or used for presenting, holding, and offering food during a meal, so th

2.形容詞B1
釋義

designed or used for presenting, holding, and offering food during a meal, so that people can take what they want.

例句

Eleni carried the roast chicken to the table on a large serving platter.

serving platter (common collocation)

Theo picked up a clean serving bowl from the shelf and filled it with salad.

serving bowl

同義詞
  • salad

    specific; 'salad bowl' names a type of bowl, while 'serving bowl' names its function

  • dinner

    broader; 'dinner plate' is for eating off of, while 'serving plate' is for presenting food

文法句型

serving + [dish/bowl/platter/spoon/tray]

用法筆記

Always used before a noun that names a container or utensil (dish, bowl, platter, spoon, fork, tray, plate). Cannot be used predicatively: 'This dish is serving' is incorrect. The adjective is describing the purpose of the object, not a state.

常見錯誤

❌This bowl is serving.
✅This is a serving bowl.
💡'serving' must come directly before the noun; it cannot follow a linking verb.

serving — noun