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series

se·ries [ sr eez ] (plural se·ries)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. things one after another: a number of similar or related things coming one after another
a series of lectures on modern philosophy

2. broadcasting set of broadcast programs: a set of regularly broadcast programs, each of which is complete in itself

3. publishing similar publications from one organization: a number of books, pamphlets, or periodicals brought out by one company or organization on the same or related topics or in the same format

4. sports set of games between same teams: in some sports such as baseball and cricket, a set of games between the same teams

5. collecting related items produced at one time: a number of related items brought out at one time, e.g. stamps or coins of different values

6. chemistry related chemicals: a group of related chemicals that are similar in structure or properties

7. mathematics sum of sequence of terms: in mathematics, the indicated sum of a finite or infinite sequence of terms, each term being added to those that precede it

8. geology rock layer: a succession of rock strata deposited during a particular period of geologic time

9. electronics arrangement of electric components: a set of two or more electronic components through which current flows in sequence

10. music set of 12 notes: a set of 12 notes, the 12 chromatic pitches of an octave, in which no pitch is repeated

11. grammar two or more coordinate elements: a sequence of two or more parts in a sentence that have the same grammatical structure

[Early 17th century. < Latin< serere "join, connect"]

in series 

1. 
arranged to form a series
 

2. 
connected in an electrical circuit so that the same current flows through each component in sequence



Word Usage

Series can be a singular or a plural noun, depending on its meaning. When it is used to refer to a single set of things, it takes a singular verb even if it is followed by the preposition of and a plural noun: A series of medical tests is planned for next week. When series refers to two or more sets of things, it takes a plural verb: Three series of medical tests are planned for next week.


Word History

The Latin word serere "to join or connect," from which series is derived, is also the source of English assert and insert.

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