I. ˈsir-ē-əl adjective
Date: 1840
1. : of, relating to, consisting of, or arranged in a series, rank, or row
serial order
2. : appearing in successive parts or numbers
a serial story
3. : belonging to a series maturing periodically rather than on a single date
serial bonds
4. : of, relating to, or being music based on a series of tones in a chosen pattern without regard for traditional tonality
5.
a. : performing a series of similar acts over a period of time
a serial killer
b. : occurring in or involving such a series
a serial murder
6. : relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted sequentially over a single wire — compare parallel
• se·ri·al·ly -ə-lē adverb
II. noun
Date: 1846
1.
a. : a work appearing (as in a magazine or on television) in parts at intervals
b. : one part of a serial work : installment
2. : a publication (as a newspaper or journal) issued as one of a consecutively numbered and indefinitely continued series