ˈsɪərɪəl 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. øserial
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. øøseriality n. serially adv. [SERIES + -AL]