serum

Meaning

  1. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of blood serum.
  2. (countable, uncountable) Blood serum used as a blood product, in the practice of medicine: blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals (human or nonhuman), containing antibodies and used to transfer immunity to another individual (human or nonhuman).
  3. (countable, uncountable) A watery liquid from animal tissue, especially one that moistens the surface of serous membranes or that is exuded by such membranes when they become inflamed, such as in edema or a blister.
  4. (countable, uncountable) The watery portion of certain other animal fluids, such as milk; whey.
  5. (countable, uncountable) A skincare product of varying consistencies with a high concentration of one or more active ingredients, for a targeted purpose, such as preventing acne, repairing sun damage, or moisturizing.

Frequency

C2
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈsɪəɹəm/
Etymology

In summary

From Latin serum (“whey”). Cognates include French sérum, Spanish suero, Italian siere, siero, Portuguese soro. Doublet of suero.

Notes

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