serial

[seer-ee-uhl]

noun

1. anything published, broadcast, etc., in short installments at regular intervals, as a novel appearing in successive issues of a magazine.

2. Library Science.,  a publication in any medium issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designation and intended to be continued indefinitely.

adjective

1. published in installments or successive parts.

   a serial story.

2. pertaining to such publication.

3. pertaining to, arranged in, or consisting of a series.

4. occurring in a series rather than simultaneously.

   serial marriage; serial murders.

5. effecting or producing a series of similar actions.

   The police think a serial killer is responsible for five homicides in this city last month.

6. Computers.

   1. of or relating to the apparent or actual performance of data-processing operations one at a time (parallel ).

   2. of or relating to the transmission or processing of each part of a whole in sequence, as each bit of a byte or each byte of a computer word (parallel ).

7. Music.,  of, relating to, or composed in serial technique.

serial

/ ˈsɪərɪəl /

noun

1. a novel, play, etc, presented in separate instalments at regular intervals

2. a publication, usually regularly issued and consecutively numbered

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a series

2. published or presented as a serial

3. of or relating to such publication or presentation

4. computing of or operating on items of information, instructions, etc, in the order in which they occur Compare parallel

5. of, relating to, or using the techniques of serialism

6. logic maths (of a relation) connected, transitive, and asymmetric, thereby imposing an order on all the members of the domain, as less than on the natural numbers See also ordering

Other Word Forms

• serially adverb
• nonserial noun
• nonserially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of serial¹

From the New Latin word seriālis, dating back to 1835–45. See series, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of serial¹

C19: from New Latin seriālis, from Latin seriēs _series

Example Sentences

And where the earlier shows, notwithstanding soap operatic long arcs, are fundamentally episodic, “Tony & Ziva” is a serial story, stretched over 10 episodes.

From Los Angeles Times

He was haunting as the conflicted foodie/serial killer in psychological thriller “The Patient,” where he co-starred, ironically, with Steve Carell.

From Los Angeles Times

Set in 1915, the story features twins who escape the clutches of a serial killer and find a haven among a group of so-called “circus freaks,” including a two-headed woman and dog-faced boy.

From Los Angeles Times

Grace is a serial concert goer and went to see Oasis in Croke Park earlier this month.

From BBC

The 57-year-old was a serial winner as a player with a phenomenal six premierships, and then as coach won two State of Origin series and led the Brisbane Broncos to an NRL Grand Final.

From BBC

Related Words

• sequential