Standard Lemma guide

serous

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈsiːɹəs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Containing, secreting, or resembling serum; watery; a fluid or discharge that is pale yellow and transparent, usually representing something of a benign nature. (This contrasts with sanguine, which means blood-tinged and usually harmful.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

of or producing or containing serum

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a serous exudate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From French séreux, from Latin serosus, from serum.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: séreux — containing, secreting, or resembling serum
  • Norwegian: serøs — containing, secreting, or resembling serum
  • Russian: серо́зный (seróznyj) — containing, secreting, or resembling serum
  • Spanish: seroso — containing, secreting, or resembling serum
  • Swedish: serös — containing, secreting, or resembling serum
  • Turkish: seröz — containing, secreting, or resembling serum