1 VERB If one person serenades another, they sing or play a piece of music for them. Traditionally men did this outside the window of the woman they loved. □ [V n] In the interval a blond boy dressed in white serenaded the company on the flute. ● N‑COUNT Serenade is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The tenor sang his serenade of love.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] In classical music, a serenade is a piece in several parts written for a small orchestra. □ …Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music.
ser|en|dipi|tous /se rend I p I təs/ ADJ A serendipitous event is one that is not planned but has a good result. [LITERARY ] □ …a serendipitous discovery.
ser|en|dip|ity /se rend I p I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Serendipity is the luck some people have in finding or creating interesting or valuable things by chance. [LITERARY ] □ Some of the best effects in my garden have been the result of serendipity.
se|rene /s I riː n/ ADJ Someone or something that is serene is calm and quiet. □ She looked as calm and serene as she always did. ● se|rene|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ We sailed serenely down the river. ● se|ren|ity /s I re n I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ I had a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity when I saw my husband.
serf /sɜː r f/ (serfs ) N‑COUNT In former times, serfs were a class of people who had to work on a particular person's land and could not leave without that person's permission.
serf|dom /sɜː r fdəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The system of serfdom was the social and economic system by which the owners of land had serfs.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If someone was in a state of serfdom , they were a serf.
serge /sɜː r dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Serge is a type of strong woollen cloth used to make clothes such as skirts, coats, and trousers. □ He wore a blue serge suit.
ser|geant /sɑː r dʒ ə nt/ (sergeants )
1 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A sergeant is a non-commissioned officer of middle rank in the army, marines, or air force. □ A sergeant with a detail of four men came into view. □ …Sergeant Black.
2 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In the British police force, a sergeant is an officer with the next to lowest rank. In American police forces, a sergeant is an officer with the rank immediately below a captain. □ The unit headed by Sergeant Bell.
se r|geant ma|jor (sergeant majors ) also sergeant-major N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A sergeant major is the most senior non-commissioned officer in the army and the marines.
se|rial /s I ə riəl/ (serials )
1 N‑COUNT A serial is a story which is broadcast on television or radio or is published in a magazine or newspaper in a number of parts over a period of time. □ …one of BBC television's most popular serials, Eastenders. □ Maupin's novels have all appeared originally as serials.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Serial killings or attacks are a series of killings or attacks committed by the same person. This person is known as a serial killer or attacker. □ The serial killer claimed to have killed 400 people.
se|riali|za|tion /s I ə riəla I ze I ʃ ə n/ (serializations ) in BRIT, also use serialisation 1 N‑UNCOUNT Serialization is the act of serializing a book.
2 N‑COUNT A serialization is a story, originally written as a book, which is being published or broadcast in a number of parts. □ [+ of ] …in the serialisation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
se|rial|ize /s I ə riəla I z/ (serializes , serializing , serialized ) in BRIT, also use serialise VERB [usu passive] If a book is serialized , it is broadcast on the radio or television or is published in a magazine or newspaper in a number of parts over a period of time. □ [be V -ed] A few years ago Tom Brown's Schooldays was serialised on television.
se |rial num|ber (serial numbers )
1 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] The serial number of an object is a number on that object which identifies it. □ …the gun's serial number. □ …your bike's serial number.
2 N‑COUNT The serial number of a member of the United States military forces is a number which identifies them.
se |rial po rt (serial ports ) N‑COUNT A serial port on a computer is a place where you can connect the computer to a device such as a modem or a mouse. [COMPUTING ]
se|ries ◆◆◇ /s I ə riːz/ (series )
1 N‑COUNT A series of things or events is a number of them that come one after the other. □ [+ of ] …a series of meetings with students and political leaders. □ [+ of ] …a series of explosions.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A radio or television series is a set of programmes of a particular kind which have the same title. □ Lisa Kudrow became famous for her role as Phoebe in the world's most popular TV series, Friends.
se|ri|ous ◆◆◆ /s I ə riəs/
1 ADJ Serious problems or situations are very bad and cause people to be worried or afraid. □ Crime is an increasingly serious problem in modern society. □ The government still face very serious difficulties. □ Doctors said his condition was serious but stable. ● se|ri|ous|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV with v] □ If this ban was to come in it would seriously damage my business. □ They are not thought to be seriously hurt. ● se|ri|ous|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the seriousness of the crisis.
2 ADJ Serious matters are important and deserve careful and thoughtful consideration. □ I regard this as a serious matter. □ Don't laugh boy. This is serious.