n. & adj.
n. 1 a story, play, or film which is published, broadcast, or shown in regular instalments. 2 a periodical.
adj. 1 of or in or forming a series. 2 (of a story etc.) in the form of a serial. 3 Mus. using transformations of a fixed series of notes (see SERIES). 4 (of a publication) appearing in successive parts published usu. at regular intervals, periodical. serial killer a person who murders continuously with no apparent motive. serial number a number showing the position of an item in a series. serial rights the right to publish a story or book as a serial. seriality n. serially adv.
[ SERIES + -AL ]