SERIAL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does serial mean? 

• SERIAL (noun)
  The noun SERIAL has 2 senses:

1. a serialized set of programs

2. a periodical that appears at scheduled times

  Familiarity information: SERIAL used as a noun is rare.

• SERIAL (adjective)
  The adjective SERIAL has 4 senses:

1. in regular succession without gaps

2. pertaining to or composed in serial technique

3. pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series

4. of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations

  Familiarity information: SERIAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SERIAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A serialized set of programs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

serial; series

Context example:

the Masterworks concert series

Hypernyms ("serial" is a kind of...):

broadcast; program; programme (a radio or television show)

Meronyms (parts of "serial"):

episode; installment; instalment (a part of a broadcast serial)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "serial"):

soap opera (a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products))

tetralogy (a series of four related works (plays or operas or novels))

Derivation:

serial (in regular succession without gaps)

serial (pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A periodical that appears at scheduled times

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

serial; serial publication; series

Hypernyms ("serial" is a kind of...):

periodical (a publication that appears at fixed intervals)

Meronyms (parts of "serial"):

installment; instalment (a part of a published serial)

Meronyms (members of "serial"):

issue; number (one of a series published periodically)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "serial"):

semiweekly (a periodical that is published twice each week (or 104 issues per year))

weekly (a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year))

semimonthly (a periodical that is published twice each month (or 24 issues per year))

monthly (a periodical that is published every month (or 12 issues per year))

quarterly (a periodical that is published every quarter (or four issues per year))

bimonthly (a periodical that is published twice a month or every two months (either 24 or 6 issues per year))

biweekly (a periodical that is published twice a week or every two weeks (either 104 or 26 issues per year))

Derivation:

serial (in regular succession without gaps)

serial (pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series)

• SERIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In regular succession without gaps

Synonyms:

consecutive; sequent; sequential; serial; successive

Context example:

serial concerts

Similar:

ordered (having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule)

Derivation:

serial (a periodical that appears at scheduled times)

serial (a serialized set of programs)

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pertaining to or composed in serial technique

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

serial music

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Pertainym:

serialism (20th century music that uses a definite order of notes as a thematic basis for a musical composition)

Derivation:

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

serial publication

Pertainym:

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

Derivation:

serial (a periodical that appears at scheduled times)

serial (a serialized set of programs)

series (similar things placed in order or happening one after another)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations

Synonyms:

in series; nonparallel; serial

Context example:

serial processing

Similar:

asynchronous (not synchronous; not occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase)

Domain category:

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

Derivation:

series ((electronics) connection of components in such a manner that current flows first through one and then through the other)

 Context examples 

"We offer you forty dollars for all serial rights in your story," Teresa slowly spelled out, "provided you allow us to make the alterations suggested."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Manufacturer-provided serial number of automated device that created the observations.

(Device Observer Serial Number, NCI Thesaurus/DICOM)

A computerized library of tests designed for baseline screening and serial assessment of neurocognitive function.

(Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, NCI Thesaurus)

The serial number of an automated observation device.

(Device Observer Serial Number, NCI Thesaurus)

A unique numeric or alphanumeric code that contains the device identifier and a production identifier such as the lot or batch number, the serial number and/or expiration date.

(FDA Unique Device Identifier, NCI Thesaurus)

The serial transplantation proves that the HAN is immortal

(LobuloAlveolar Mouse MIN, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Serial plasma glucose levels are obtained (e.g. 30min, 1hr, 2hr, 3hr) and a plot of plasma glucose versus time is created.

(Glucose Tolerance Test, NCI Thesaurus)

An electronic device for converting between serial data from a computer and an audio signal suitable for transmission over a telephone line connected to another modem.

(Modem Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

A method to determine microbial susceptibility to antibiotics in which test bacteria is inoculated onto agar plates with serial dilutions of know quantities of antibiotics.

(Agar Dilution Method, NCI Thesaurus)

A UDI is a unique numeric or alphanumeric code that includes a device identifier, which is specific to a device model, and a production identifier, which includes the current production information for that specific device, such as the lot or batch number, the serial number and/or expiration date.

(FDA Unique Device Identifier, Food and Drug Administration/CDISC)