The verb dienen translates as "to serve." But like in English, there are many contexts for this verb that don't have to do with relationships between people. Very often, dienen is used to describe how something serves a certain purpose:

Sie dienen dazu, in Häusern böse Geister zu vertreiben.

They serve to drive evil spirits out of houses.

Caption 27, Cettina erklärt: Pfingsten

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Sie dienen vielen Tieren als Futter.

They serve as fodder for many animals.

Caption 50, Deutsch mit Eylin: Bäume

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The verb bedienen is related, but actually has a couple of different meanings. It can relate to waiting tables, though the actual act of serving food, whether at home or in a restaurant, is servieren. The reflexive verb sich bedienen means "to help oneself." Below, you'll see the formal and informal versions:

Dann bedienen Sie sich einfach. Komm! -Komm!

Then just help yourself. Come on! -Come on!

Caption 24, Großstadtrevier: Von Monstern und Mördern

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Viel Spaß! Da hinten steht was zu Trinken. Bedient euch. -Ja.

Have fun! There's stuff to drink back there. Help yourselves. -Yeah.

Caption 52, Die Pfefferkörner: Alles auf Anfang

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The noun die Selbstbedienung, a word that you might find at a café or gas station, means "self-service." But this doesn't necessarily mean you can help yourself!

An important meaning of bedienen is "to operate," as in to operate a device or machine. A user's manual is called die Bedienungsanleitung.

Wenn ihr diesen Wendehammer richtig bedient, könnt ihr die Mauer einreißen.

If you operate this turning area correctly, you can break down the wall.

Captions 73-74, Es war einmal … Entdecker und Erfinder: Archimedes

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Further Learning
You'll find many examples of these nouns and verbs used in context on German Yabla. Just do a quick search!

Today's lesson is about materials used for building and construction. Some of these are associated with modern construction, while others have been around for thousands of years!

Deine Schuhe waren wie aus Beton.

Your shoes were like they were made of concrete.

Caption 5, Emilio: Roter Sand

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Hätte es nicht einfacher Gips auch getan?

Wouldn't plaster of paris have done?

Caption 63, Tatortreiniger: Currywurst

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Hier laufen die enormen Mengen an Sand, Zement, Stahl und Kies ein.

Here is where the enormous quantities of sand, cement, steel, and gravel arrive.

Caption 10, Die Insel Fehmarn: So wird der Fehmarnbelt-Tunnel gebaut

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Im Jahre vierzehnhundertzweiundsiebzig haben die Menschen die Brücke aus Stein gebaut.

In fourteen seventy-two, the people built the bridge out of stone.

Captions 25-26, Bundesländer und ihre Rezepte: Thüringen

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Other nouns to know are der Backstein and der Mauerziegel ("the brick") and die Rigipsplatte ("the Sheetrock").

There are many kinds of wood that are used for different purposes. When we talk about lumber, we use the name of the tree followed by -holz, sometimes adding an "n" in between. 

Eichenholz ist sehr fest und wertvoll. Es ist ein Holz zur Herstellung von Möbeln und Parkettböden.

Oak wood is very strong and valuable. It is a wood for making furniture and parquet floors.

Captions 47-48, Deutsch mit Eylin: Bäume

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Other examples are das Buchenholz ("the beech wood"), das Birkenholz ("the birch wood"), das Kiefernholz ("the pine wood"), and das Ahornholz ("the maplewood"). 

Further Learning
What is the building you are living in made of? Create a few sentences and search for more examples on German Yabla.