serial

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.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪɚ.i.əl/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Homophone: cereal

Adjective

serial (not comparable)

1. Having to do with or arranged in a series.

   Synonym: sequential

   • 1823, Royal Institution of Great Britain (contributor), The Quarterly Journal - Volume 14, page 318:

     These singular ribs have a very different direction from that of the serial teeth of the hinge, and cannot be taken for teeth.

2. (of a person) Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly.

   Synonym: career

   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.

   • 2012, Rachel James, Salisbury, Lulu.com, page 10:

     "No I could not!" Kate looked at Max sternly. "I am not a cheat and I am not a serial monogamist."

3. Published or produced in installments.
4. (grammar) Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing.

Noun

serial (plural serials)

1. A literary or dramatic work, such as a radio or television programme, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end.
2. A publication issued in successive parts, often numbered and with no predetermined end.
3. (computing, slang) A serial number, esp. one required to activate software.

   Go to these sites for serials, cracks and keygens.

4. (UK) A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot.
   • 1992, James Donald, Ali Rattansi, Race, Culture and Difference, page 66:

     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.

   • 2013, Tony Moore, Policing Notting Hill: Fifty Years of Turbulence, page 324:

     The serials worked in pairs, one with long shields and one with short shields.

Verb

serial (third-person singular simple present serials, present participle serialling or (US) serialing, simple past and past participle serialled or (US) serialed)

1. (transitive) to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft)

References

• DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. →ISBN, Ch. 6.
• “serial”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• Google books: uses of serial

Anagrams

• Ariels, Lieras, railes, resail, Sal Rei, ariels, Realis, sailer, Isreal, relais, Israël, realis, Alires, Sailer, Israel, serail

Etymology

From Russian сериа́л (seriál), from English serial.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

serial (definite accusative serialı, plural seriallar)

1. (broadcasting, film) series

   türk serialları ― Turkish TV-series

   Azərbaycanlılar türk seriallarına baxmağı çox sevirlər.

   Azerbaijanis love watching Turkish TV-series.

Further reading

• “serial” in Obastan.com.

Etymology

From English serial.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [seˈrial]
• Hyphenation: sé‧ri‧al

Adjective

sérial

1. serial (having to do with or arranged in a series; published or produced in installments)

Further reading

• “serial” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Etymology

Borrowed from English serial.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛ.rjal/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛrjal
• Syllabification: se‧rial

Noun

serial m inan

1. (television) series (television program which consists of several episodes that are broadcast in regular intervals)

Further reading

• serial in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• serial in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Etymology

Borrowed from English serial. By surface analysis, serie +‎ -al.

Adjective

serial m or n (feminine singular serială, masculine plural seriali, feminine and neuter plural seriale)

1. serial

Noun

serial n (plural seriale)

1. serial

Etymology

From serie +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /seˈɾjal/ [seˈɾjal]
• Rhymes: -al
• Syllabification: se‧rial

Adjective

serial m or f (masculine and feminine plural seriales)

1. serial

Noun

serial m (plural seriales)

1. series, programme (TV or radio)

   Synonyms: serie, culebrón, folletín, novela

Further reading

• “serial”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10