serial
Part of speech: adj
noun
verb
Morphological type: derivation
Topics: computing
engineering
grammar
human-sciences
linguistics
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
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.
Base: series
Affixes: -al
Inflected forms:
form: serials
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: serials
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: serialing
pos: verb
tags: US
participle
present
form: serialling
pos: verb
tags: UK
participle
present
form: serialed
pos: verb
tags: US
participle
past
form: serialed
pos: verb
tags: US
past
form: serialled
pos: verb
tags: UK
participle
past
form: serialled
pos: verb
tags: UK
past
Senses:
gloss: Having to do with or arranged in a series.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: These singular ribs have a very different direction from that of the serial teeth of the hinge, and cannot be taken for teeth.
gloss: Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The serial killer had a string of victims across seven states.
He was a serial entrepreneur, always coming up with a new way to make cash.
"No I could not!" Kate looked at Max sternly. "I am not a cheat and I am not a serial monogamist."
“It’s easier to sort of attribute these deaths to a boogeyman serial killer as opposed to confronting the real possible reasons that these deaths are happening,” she said, pointing to mental health, substance abuse and housing issues.
gloss: Published or produced in installments.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
gloss: Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
gloss: A literary or dramatic work, such as a radio or television programme, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end.
pos: noun
gloss: A publication issued in successive parts, often numbered and with no predetermined end.
pos: noun
gloss: A serial number, esp. one required to activate software.
pos: noun
tags: slang
examples: Go to these sites for serials, cracks and keygens.
gloss: A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot.
pos: noun
tags: UK
examples: The practice, especially among members of shield serials, of 'whooping like cowboys and indians' and beating of truncheons on riot shields must cease as this tends to frighten and intimidate rioters.
The serials worked in pairs, one with long shields and one with short shields.
gloss: to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft)
pos: verb
tags: transitive
Related words: seriate
seriatim
seriation
series
fascicle
twelve tone technique
Derived words: biserial
multiserial
pauciserial
polyserial
postserial
quadriserial
quinqueserial
rectiserial
serial art
serial bond
serial comma
serial file
serial interval
serialise
serialism
serialist
serialistic
seriality
serialize
serial key
serial killer
serially
serial monogamist
serial monogamy
serial music
serial number
serial pest
serial polygamy
serial port
serial position effect
serial rapist
serial time-encoded amplified microscopy
subserial
triserial
uniserial
nonserial
daytime serial
miniserial
teleserial
Translations: