serum

[ seer-uh m ]
/ ˈsɪər əm /

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.

Origin of serum

1655–65; < Latin: whey

OTHER WORDS FROM serum

se·rum·al, adjective

Words nearby serum

sertoli cell tumor, sertoli cell-only syndrome, sertorius, sertraline, sertularian, serum, serum accelerator, serum accelerator globulin, serum agglutinin, serum albumin, serum disease

British Dictionary definitions for serumal

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

Medical definitions for serumal (1 of 2)

serumal
[ sîr′ə-məl ]

adj.

Relating to or derived from serum.

Medical definitions for serumal (2 of 2)

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 serumal

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.