serial

English

Etymology

1840, in reference to the books of Charles Dickens (published in sequential parts, as a series). Formed as series +‎ -al, on model of Latin seriālis, from seriēs + -ālis.

Cognate to Italian seriale.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪəɹiːəɫ/
• Homophone: cereal

Adjective

serial (not comparable)

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

   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.

2. Published or produced in installments.

Synonyms

• (arranged in a series): sequential

Derived terms

• serially
• serial comma
• serial killer
• serial music
• serialize

Translations

Having to do with or arranged in a series

• Czech: sériový
• Finnish: sarja-
• Greek: σειριακός (el) (seiriakós)

• Hungarian: sorozat-
• Polish: seryjny (pl)
• Romanian: serial (ro) m, n

Published or produced in installments

• Hungarian: sorozat (hu)

Noun

serial (plural serials)

1. A work, as a work of fiction, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end.
2. (computing, slang) A serial number required to activate software.

   Go to these sites for serials, cracks and keygens.

Translations

A work, as a work of fiction, published in installments

• Finnish: jatkokertomus (fi)
• French: feuilleton (fr) m
• Greek: σειρά (el) f (seirá)

• Hungarian: folytatásos (hu)
• Irish: sraithchlár m
• Swedish: följetong (sv)

See also

• twelve tone technique

Related terms

• seriate
• seriatim
• seriation
• series

References

• DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0130493465, Ch. 6.
• serial at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Google books: uses of serial

Anagrams

• ariels, Israel, realis, resail, sailer