serial

SaySEER-ee-uhlUS/ˈsɪɹ.i.əl/UK/ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/

Noun pluralserials

9 meanings of serial

1
again and againadjective
Doing the same kind of action again and again.
Like someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over.
He's a serial liar, so nobody believes his stories anymore.
The company became known as a serial polluter of the river.
Similarhabitual, persistent, chronic, compulsive
Oppositefirst-time, one-time, occasional
Note
2
TV dramanouncountable
A story on TV or radio that is told in many parts, with a new part each time.
Like a long story cut into short parts, each one ending just as it gets exciting.
The radio serial kept listeners tuning in every week for the next episode.
Audiences followed the television serial for years, never sure when it would end.
Similarseries
3
in sequenceadjective
Arranged one after another, as part of a connected series.
Like train cars joined one behind another in a line.
The chapters follow a serial order, so you read them one after another.
The machine checks each part in a serial process, one at a time.
Similarsequential
Oppositeparallel, simultaneous, concurrent
Note
4
software codenounslangcountable
A code you type in to unlock or turn on a program.
Like a secret password that unlocks a program so you can use it.
He typed the serial into the box to start the game.
I lost the serial for my photo program and couldn't install it again.
Similarkey, code
Note
5
in episodesadjective
Coming out in separate parts over time, not all at once.
Like getting one piece of a puzzle each week instead of the whole box at once.
The story came out in serial parts, one chapter each week.
They released the show as a serial program, adding new episodes weekly.
Similarepisodic
6
magazinenouncountable
A magazine or paper that comes out in numbered parts again and again.
Like a magazine you keep getting, with a new issue each month and no last one planned.
This serial arrives in the mail with a new issue every month.
The library keeps every serial in a special section near the front.
Similarperiodical

Less common meanings

7
give a numberverbtransitive
To give something an official number so that it can be tracked.
Like writing a name tag on each item so you always know which one is which.
Workers serial each new plane before it leaves the factory.
The army will serial every vehicle in the fleet.
Similarnumber
Note
8
police unitnounUKcountable
A team of police officers with shields who are sent to control a riot.
Like a small team sent in together to handle one tough job.
A police serial moved in to break up the fighting in the square.
Each serial was sent to a different part of the crowd.
Similarunit, squad, detachment
Note
9
grammaradjective
Used for a verb form that shows an action that keeps happening or goes on over time.
Like a special verb ending that means "keeps doing it again and again."
The teacher explained how the serial aspect changes a verb's meaning.
In that language, a serial form tells you the action keeps happening.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the word 'series' plus '-al'. It was first used around 1823.