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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Serial: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：sequential (serial)

serial 🔊

/ˈsɪriəl/

adj.

Describes something arranged in a sequence or happening one after another, like a TV show with many episodes.

sequential 🔊

➕

/sɪˈkwenʃl/

adj.

It refers to something that is arranged or occurs in a fixed sequence, one item or event after another.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'series', meaning a sequence or row.

💡 Mnemonic

Serial sounds like series, both mean things in a row.

📖 Example

I'm hooked on a serial drama that airs a new episode every Friday night. 🔊 I am deeply engrossed in a drama series that broadcasts a new episode every Friday night.

🔗 Collocations

serial drama – a television show released in episodic installments

serial novel – a story published in sequential parts over time

serial number – a unique identifier assigned in a consecutive order

🔄 Synonyms

sequential (adj.) – arranged in a logical or chronological order

successive (adj.) – following one after another without interruption

consecutive (adj.) – in unbroken sequence or series

🚫 Antonyms

random (adj.) – without definite aim, direction, or pattern

sporadic (adj.) – occurring at irregular intervals or only occasionally

🌱 Derivatives

serially (adv.) – in a serial manner; one after another

serialize (v.) – to publish or produce in serial form

serialization (n.) – the process of converting into a serial format

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'series' via French, first used in 19th-century English for serial publications like novels by Charles Dickens, later extended to TV and other media.

Meaning 2：habitual (serial)

serial 🔊

/ˈsɪriəl/

adj.

Describes a person who repeatedly commits the same type of action or crime over time.

habitual 🔊

➕

/həˈbɪtʃuəl/

adj.

It describes a person who consistently engages in the same type of activity or behavior over a period of time.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After failing with his first two startups, he proved himself to be a resilient serial entrepreneur with his third successful business. 🔊 He demonstrated persistence as a habitual entrepreneur by achieving success with his third venture after initial failures.

🔗 Collocations

serial entrepreneur – an individual who starts multiple businesses sequentially

serial investor – a person who makes repeated investments in various ventures

serial innovator – someone who consistently introduces new ideas or products

🔄 Synonyms

habitual (adj.) – done repeatedly as a regular practice or custom

chronic (adj.) – persistent over a long duration, often with negative connotations

repeated (adj.) – done again and again on multiple occasions

🚫 Antonyms

occasional (adj.) – happening from time to time, not regularly

one-time (adj.) – occurring only once, not repeated

🌱 Derivatives

serially (adv.) – in a serial manner; repeatedly over time

serialize (v.) – to arrange or produce in a series

serialization (n.) – the act of making something serial