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View synonyms for serum

serum

[ seer-uhm ]

noun

, plural se·rums, se·ra [seer, -, uh].
  1. the clear, pale-yellow liquid that separates from the clot in the coagulation of blood; blood serum.
  2. any watery animal fluid.
  3. the thin, clear part of the fluid of plants.
  4. milk whey.


serum

/ ˈsɪərəm /

noun

  1. antitoxin obtained from the blood serum of immunized animals
  2. physiol zoology clear watery fluid, esp that exuded by serous membranes
  3. a less common word for whey


serum

/ sîrəm /

, Plural serums

  1. 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.


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Derived Forms

  • ˈserumal, adjective

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Other Words From

  • serum·al adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of serum1

1655–65; < Latin: whey

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Word History and Origins

Origin of serum1

C17: from Latin: whey

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Example Sentences

If he contracts the disease, there will be no ‘secret serum’ waiting for him.

A Washington Post blog asks: “Why do two white Americans get the Ebola serum while hundreds of Africans die?”

The New Republic demands: “Why did two U.S. missionaries get an Ebola serum while Africans are left to die?”

Never mind that there seem to have been no more than eight doses of the serum in existence.

The serum failed to neutralize the virus in subsequent tests and seemed to offer little protection in animal experiments.

It is thinner than that of chronic bronchitis, and upon standing separates into three layers of pus, mucus, and frothy serum.

It is especially useful with cultures upon serum media, but is applicable also to the sputum.

The clear, straw-colored fluid which is left after separation of the coagulum is called blood-serum.

One drop of the serum is then added to nine drops of normal salt solution, making a dilution of 1:10.

In serum therapy antitoxins are artificially excited into being in the blood of beasts.

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sertularianserum albumin