serial

Meaning

Adj

1. Having to do with or arranged in a series.
2. Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly.
3. Published or produced in installments.
4. Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing.

Noun

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. (slang) A serial number, esp. one required to activate software.
4. A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot.

Verb

to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft)

Synonyms

consecutive

successive

series

sequential

sequent

following

serial publication

gradual

serialised novel

in order

nonparallel

succession

in series

serialized novel

multiple

order

orderly

ordinal

periodical

row

running

🏃

sequence

serialization

serializes

soap

🧼

soap opera

straight

successional

tandem

train

🚋

umbellate

volley

occurring in succession

on-going

ser

umbellar

umbelliform

serial picture

umbel-like

cascade connected

series connected

telenovela

batch

serial novel

chain

chronological

connected

continued

continuing

continuity

continuous

continuously

course

index

installment

in succession

mass

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/

Etymology

Cognate with Italian: seriale

In summary

Formed as series + -al, on model of Latin seriālis, from seriēs + -ālis. Cognate to Italian seriale. First use appears c. 1823. See cite below.