/ ˈsɪəriəl; NAmE ˈsɪr-/ noun , adjective
■ noun
a story on television or the radio, or in a magazine, that is broadcast or published in several separate parts
■ adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] ( technical ) arranged in a series :
tasks carried out in the same serial order
2.
[ only before noun ] doing the same thing in the same way several times :
a serial rapist
3.
[ only before noun ] ( of a story, etc. ) broadcast or published in several separate parts :
a novel in serial form
► seri·al·ly / -iəli; NAmE / adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from series + -al , perhaps suggested by French sérial .