serum
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈsɪəɹəm//
- United Kingdom//ˈsiːɹəm//
- United States//ˈsɪɹəm//
- Canada//ˈsiɹəm//
Blood serum used as a blood product, in the practice of medicine: blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals (human or nonhuman), containing antibodies and used to transfer immunity to another individual (human or nonhuman).
noun
- 1
Blood serum used as a blood product, in the practice of medicine: blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals (human or nonhuman), containing antibodies and used to transfer immunity to another individual (human or nonhuman).
Near-synonym: antiserum
- 2
A watery liquid from animal tissue, especially one that moistens the surface of serous membranes or that is exuded by such membranes when they become inflamed, such as in edema or a blister.
- 3
The watery portion of certain other animal fluids, such as milk; whey.
- 4
A skincare product of varying consistencies with a high concentration of one or more active ingredients, for a targeted purpose, such as preventing acne, repairing sun damage, or moisturizing.
- 5
Variant of blood serumEllipsis of blood serum.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ser- Proto-Indo-European *sér-o-der. Proto-Italic *serom Latin serumder. English serum From Latin serum (“whey”). Cognates include French sérum, Spanish suero, Italian siere, siero, Portuguese soro. Doublet of suero.
Forms
- plural
- serums, sera
serum · Blood serum used as a blood product, in the practice of medicine: blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals (human or nonhuman), containing…
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