serial

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. doing the same thing many times, often used for crimes or bad habits.

adj. performing a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly over a period of time.

“The police finally caught the serial thief who had been robbing houses for months.”

“Psychologists studied the serial offender to understand the behavioral patterns that led to such frequent recidivism.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. published or shown in several parts over a period of time.

adj. published, broadcast, or produced in successive installments.

“The magazine is publishing a serial story that continues every month.”

“The author gained fame through the serial publication of his novels in Victorian literary journals.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a story, radio show, or TV programme that is told in many separate parts.

n. a literary or dramatic work published or broadcast in regular installments.

“I missed the last part of the serial, so I don't know how the story ended.”

“The television serial captivated the nation for ten weeks, culminating in a finale that broke all previous viewing records.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Slang · Informal

n. a code or number you need to make a computer program work.

n. a serial number, specifically a unique alphanumeric string required to activate or register software.

“I lost the serial for my photo editing software and couldn't reinstall it.”

“The user was unable to bypass the activation screen because the serial provided in the documentation was invalid.”

C1 · Advanced Technical · Formal

v. to give a unique number to something in a series.

v. to assign a serial number to an item, typically for tracking or identification purposes.

“The factory serials every engine before it is shipped to the customer.”

“The aviation authority requires manufacturers to serial every critical component to ensure traceability in the event of mechanical failure.”