serial

/'siəriəl/
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serial

A new episode of the mystery serial airs every Saturday evening.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Relating to a sequence or series: Describes something that occurs, is performed, or is published in a successive order, one part after another.
    • Relating to a single linear order: Pertaining to a method of processing or performing tasks one at a time in a sequence, rather than simultaneously.
  2. Noun:

    • A story or program published/broadcast in parts: A literary work, television program, or radio program that is released in regular installments.
    • A periodical: A magazine or journal published at scheduled intervals.
Examples of Usage
  • Adjective:

    • The police investigated a series of serial killings in the city.
    • The data was processed in serial order, which took longer than parallel processing.
    • She was only interested in serial monogamy, having one long-term partner after another.
  • Noun:

    • I never miss an episode of my favorite detective serial on television.
    • The novel was first published as a serial in a monthly magazine.
    • This academic serial is issued quarterly.
Advanced Usage
  • "Serial comma" (or Oxford comma): The comma used immediately before a coordinating conjunction (usually 'and' or 'or') in a list of three or more items.

    • In the list "red, white, and blue," the serial comma is the one after "white."
  • "Serial number": A unique identifier assigned incrementally to an item to distinguish it from others of the same type.

    • Please provide the serial number of your device for warranty registration.
  • "Serial rights": The legal rights to publish a work in successive installments in periodicals.

    • The author sold the serial rights to her novel to a popular magazine.
Variants and Related Words
  • Serialize (verb): To publish or present (a story, program, etc.) in regular installments.

    • The network decided to serialize the classic novel over ten weeks.
  • Serially (adverb): In a serial manner; one after another.

    • The tasks were completed serially, not in parallel.
  • Serialization (noun): The process of converting something into a serial form or the state of being published in serial form.

    • The serialization of the book increased its popularity.
Synonyms
  • Adjective: Sequential, consecutive, successive, periodic.
  • Noun: Series, installment, periodical, magazine.
Related Phrases
  • "Serial offender": A person who repeatedly commits the same type of crime.

    • The judge gave a harsh sentence to the serial offender.*
  • "In serial": One after the other in a sequence.

    • The documents were filed in serial according to their case numbers.
serial

A new episode of the mystery serial airs every Saturday evening.

Adjective
  1. of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations
    • serial processing
  2. pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series
    • serial monogamy
    • serial killing
    • a serial killer
    • serial publication
  3. pertaining to or composed in serial technique
    • serial music
  4. in regular succession without gaps
    • serial concerts
Noun
  1. a periodical that appears at scheduled times
  2. a serialized set of programs
    • a comedy series
    • the Masterworks concert series