serum

[ seer-uhm ]

/ ˈsɪər əm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for serum on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural se·rums, se·ra [seer-uh]. /ˈsɪər ə/.

the clear, pale-yellow liquid that separates from the clot in the coagulation of blood; blood serum.

immune serum.

any watery animal fluid.

the thin, clear part of the fluid of plants.

milk whey.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of serum

1655–65; <Latin: whey

OTHER WORDS FROM serum

se·rum·al, adjective

Words nearby serum

Sertoli cell-only syndrome, Sertoli cell tumor, Sertorius, sertraline, sertularian, serum, serum accelerator, serum accelerator globulin, serum agglutinin, serumal, serum albumin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for serum

Our top-selling products are serums, toners, essences, which makes a lot of sense because people are in their homes and have more time to dedicate to their skincare routines.
Singapore-based Raena gets $9M Series A for its pivot to skincare and beauty-focused social commerce|Catherine Shu|February 26, 2021|TechCrunch
Medical authorities regularly reviewed experimental results and confirmed that although some serums did prevent the development of pneumonia in certain cases, none of the vaccines were useful in either preventing or treating influenza.
History reminds us that vaccines alone don’t end pandemics|E. Thomas Ewing|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
As mothers of young children who had tried and tested virtually every cream, serum, and treatment in the business, we knew that together we just might be able to create something amazing.
The skin care brand striving to make medical-grade topicals both more luxe and accessible|Rachel King|November 29, 2020|Fortune
I seriously don’t know what I was doing before I starting using this serum.
Here’s The Beauty Routine Behind Laura Harrier’s Flawless Skin|Allison McGevna|October 5, 2020|Essence.com

If he contracts the disease, there will be no ‘secret serum’ waiting for him.
Fighting Ebola With Nothing but Hope|Abby Haglage|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Washington Post blog asks: “Why do two white Americans get the Ebola serum while hundreds of Africans die?”
Why the White Americans Got the ‘Secret’ Ebola Serum|Michael Daly|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The New Republic demands: “Why did two U.S. missionaries get an Ebola serum while Africans are left to die?”
Why the White Americans Got the ‘Secret’ Ebola Serum|Michael Daly|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never mind that there seem to have been no more than eight doses of the serum in existence.
Why the White Americans Got the ‘Secret’ Ebola Serum|Michael Daly|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The serum failed to neutralize the virus in subsequent tests and seemed to offer little protection in animal experiments.
Infected Ebola Doctor Kent Brantly Is an Endangered Hero|Michael Daly|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is thinner than that of chronic bronchitis, and upon standing separates into three layers of pus, mucus, and frothy serum.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
It is especially useful with cultures upon serum media, but is applicable also to the sputum.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The clear, straw-colored fluid which is left after separation of the coagulum is called blood-serum.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
One drop of the serum is then added to nine drops of normal salt solution, making a dilution of 1:10.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
In serum therapy antitoxins are artificially excited into being in the blood of beasts.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley

British Dictionary definitions for serum

serum

/ (ˈsɪərəm) /

noun plural -rums or -ra (-rə)

See blood serum

antitoxin obtained from the blood serum of immunized animals

physiol zoology clear watery fluid, esp that exuded by serous membranes

a less common word for whey

Derived forms of serum

serumal, adjective

Word Origin for serum

C17: from Latin: whey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for serum

serum

[ sîr′əm ]

n. pl. se•rums

A watery fluid, especially one that moistens the surface of serous membranes or that is exuded by such membranes when they become inflamed.

The clear yellowish fluid obtained upon separating whole blood into its solid and liquid components.

Such fluid from the tissues of immunized animals, containing antibodies and used to transfer immunity to another individual.

Scientific definitions for serum

serum

[ sîr′əm ]

Plural serums sera

See blood serum.

Blood serum extracted from an animal that has immunity to a particular disease. The serum contains antibodies to one or more specific disease antigens, and when injected into humans or other animals, it can transfer immunity to those diseases.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

serum

noun, plural se·rums, se·ra [seer-uh]. /ˈsɪər ə/.