serial
UK /ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/ · US /ˈsɪɹ.i.əl/ adjective, noun, verb
Forms serials serialing serialling serialed serialled
- adjective Having to do with or arranged in a series.
- adjective (of a person) Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly. “The serial killer had a string of victims across seven states.”
- adjective Published or produced in installments.
- adjective (grammar) Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing.
- noun A literary or dramatic work, such as a radio or television programme, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end.
- noun A publication issued in successive parts, often numbered and with no predetermined end.
- noun (computing, slang) A serial number, esp. one required to activate software. “Go to these sites for serials, cracks and keygens.”
- noun (UK) A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot.
- verb (transitive) to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft)
Synonyms
sequential career series serial publication consecutive sequent successive in series nonparallel
Etymology
Formed as series + -al, on model of Latin seriālis, from seriēs + -ālis. Cognate to Italian seriale. First use appears c. 1823. See cite below.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to a series; consisting of a series; appearing in successive parts or numbers; as, a serial work or publication.
- adjective Of or pertaining to rows. Gray. Serial homology. (Biol.) See under Homology.
- noun A publication appearing in a series or succession of part; a tale, or other writing, published in successive numbers of a periodical.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “serial”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details