Serrate Leaf of American Lin- 
den (7Y/i<i Americana). 
Serrasalmoninae 
described, some of which attain the length of 2 feet, but 
most are much smaller. See piraya. 
serrate (ser'sit), a. [= Sp. serrato, < L. scrratus, 
sa w-shaped, saw-like (ef. serrare, pp. scrratus, 
saw, saw up), < scrra, a saw, prob. for "secra, < 
secure, cut, and thus akin to AS. sa<7, E. saw, 
from the same root: see secant and saw 1 .] 
Notched on the edge like a sa w ; toothed ; specifi- 
cally, in bot. , having small 
sharp teeth along the 
margin, pointing toward 
the apex: as, a serrate 
leaf. When a serrate leaf has 
small serratures upon the large 
ones, it is said to be doubly ser- 
rate, as in the elm. The word 
is also applied to a calyx, corol- 
la, or stipule. A Ktrrate-dliate 
leaf is one having fine hairs, 
like the eyelashes, on the serra- 
tures. A serrate-dentate leaf 
has the serratures toothed. In 
zoology and anatomy serrate is 
applied to very many struc- 
tures much unlike one another, 
but having more or fewer similar teeth. Serrate an- 
tennae, in entom., antennte whose joints are triangular 
and compressed, presenting a serrate outline on the inner 
margin : sometimes the outer joints (usually three in num- 
ber) are enlarged, forming a serrate club. See cuts under 
Serricornia and serricorn. Serrate palpi, in entwn., 
palpi whose joints are flat, produced, and pointed on one 
side. Serrate preoperculum, a preoperculum with 
numerous parallel denticles on its posterior border. Ser- 
rate suture, one of several kinds of cranial sutures in 
which a large number of small irregular teeth of the edge 
of one bone interlock or interdigitate with similar teeth 
on another bone, as in the sagittal, coronal, and lambdoidal 
sutures. The phrase is sometimes restricted to the inter- 
frontal suture, the sagittal being called dentate, and the 
coronal limtmse, but the difference is slight, if any, and 
holds for few animals besides man. See cuts under cra- 
nium and parietal, Serrate tibiae, in entotn* , tibiie 
which have a row of sharp teeth along the greater part 
of the outer edge, as in the Scolytidx. Serrate ungues, 
in entom., ungues or claws having a row of sharp teeth on 
the lower edge. See cut /under Mordella. 
serrated (ser'a-ted), a. [< serrate + -ed 2 .] Same 
as serrate. 
serrati, . Plural of serratus. 
serration (se-ra'shou), . [< serrate + -ion.'] 
1 . The state of being serrate ; a serrated con- 
dition ; formation in the shape of the edge of a 
saw. 
Far above, in thunder-blue serration, stand the eternal 
edges of the angry Apeunine, dark with rolling impen- 
dence of volcanic cloud. Rugtrin. 
2. In zool., anat., and bot. : () A semi; a for- 
mation like a saw in respect of its teeth; a 
set or series of saw-like teeth. See cuts under 
Priacanthus and serratirostral. (ft) One of a 
set of serrate or dentate processes: as, one 
of the nine serrations of the serratus magnus 
muscle. 
serratirostral (ser"a-ti-ros'tral), a. [< L. ser- 
ratus, saw-shaped, -r ros- 
trum, a bill : see rostral.] 
Saw-billed, as abird; hav- 
ing the cutting edges of 
the bill serrate, as a saw- 
bill or motmot. 
Serratirostres (ser"a-ti- 
ros'trez), n. pi. [NL. : 
see serratirostral.] In 
Blyth's system (1849), a 
superfamily of his Halcyoides, consisting of 
the single family Momotidee, the motmots or 
saw-bills, as distinguished from Angulirostres 
and Cylindrirostres. See also cut under Momo- 
tus. 
serratodenticulate (ser'a-to-den-tik'u-lat), a. 
In entom., serrate with teetn which are them- 
selves denticulate. 
Serratula (se-rat'u-la), . [NL. (Dillenius, 
1719), named in allusion to the rough, sharp- 
edged, and toothed leaves ; < L. nerratitla, bet- 
ony, fern, of "serratnlus, dim. of serratus, saw- 
shaped: see serrate.] A genus of composite 
plants of the tribe Cynaroidex and subtribe Cen- 
taureeif. It is characterized by involucral bracts with 
the tip acute, awned, or prolonged by a narrow entire 
appendage, and destitute of any floral leaves beneath, 
and by flowers with the anthers usually somewhat tailed, 
and the achenes smooth and nearly cylindrical. There are 
about 35 species, natives of Europe, northern Africa, and 
central and western Asia. They are perennial herbs, bear- 
ing alternate toothed or pinnatifld leaves without spines, 
and either green or hoary with dense wooL The flowers 
are usually purple or violet, and solitary or grouped in 
loose corymbs. See saltwort. 
serrature (ser'a-tur), n. [< NL. serratura, a be- 
ing saw-shaped (cf. L. serratura, a sawing, < 
serrare, pp. serratus, saw): see serrate.] In 
anat., zool,, and bot., same as serration. 
These are serrated on the edges ; but the serratures are 
deeper and grosser than in any of the rest. Woodward. 
[NL.: see 
Serratirostral Bill of Motmot 
(MomotKj Hattererf). 
.-,.-,14 
serratus (se-ra'tus), w. ; pi. .vrmr/i (-ti). [NL. 
(sc. musculiis), a serrate muscle: see serrate.] 
In anat., one of several muscles of the thorax: 
so named because they arise by a series of digi- 
tations from successive ribs, and are thus ser- 
rate. Great serratus. Same as serratus magnus. 
Serratus magnus, a broad quadrilateral muscle occu- 
pying the side of the chest, an important muscle of res- 
piration. It arises by nine serrations from the outer 
surface of the eight upper ribs, and is inserted into the 
whole length of the vertebral border of the scapula. 
Also called great serratus, magnixerratujt, costozcapularix. 
See cut under muscle^. Serratus posticus inferior, a 
thin, flat muscle on the lower part of the thorax, beneath 
the latissimus dorsi. Also called infraserratus. Serra- 
tus posticus superior, a thin, flat quadrilateral nuis 
cle on the upper part of the thorax, beneath the rhom- 
boidei. Also called supraserratus. 
serraye (se-ra'), n. [F-] The reciprocal pres- 
sure exerted between the component parts of 
any built-up gun, assembled in any manner 
whatever, in order to produce compression on 
the inner member with a view to increasing the 
strength of the system. It is a more compre- 
hensive term than shrinkage. 
serricorn (ser'i-korn), a. and n. [< L. serra, a 
saw, + cornu, horn.] I. a. 
Having serrate antennae; 
of or pertaining to the Ser- 
ricornia. 
II. w. A serrieorn bee- 
tle ; a member of the Ser- 
ricornia. 
Serricornes (ser-i-k&r'- 
nez), n.pl. [NL. : see ser- 
ricorn.] The Serricornia; 
in Latreille's system, the 
third family of pentamer- 
ous Coleoptera, divided into tenn* of 
Sternoxi, Malacodermi, and %%%!{; 
Xylotrogi. 
Serricornia (ser-i-kor'ni-a), n. pi. 
serricorn.] A tribe of pen- 
tamerous Coleoptera, having 
the fourth and fifth tarsal 
joints not connate, the first 
ventral segment visible for ^MHB\ I 
its whole length, and the an- 
tenn as a rule serrate, rare- 
ly clavate or capitate. Among 
leading families are Buprestidsr, 
ElateridK, Ptinidx, Clerida, and 
Lampyrida. The group is modi- 
fied from Latreille's Serricornes. 
See also cuts under Buprestis, click- Lampyris noctilttca, 
beetle, and serricorn. one of the Serrirprnia. 
serried (ser'id), p. a. [See (Un<! shows natl " al *' 
Kerry.'] Crowded; compacted in regular lines. 
But now 
Foul dissipation follow'd, and forced rout ; 
Nor served it to relax their serried files. 
Milton, P. L., vi. 599. 
Like reeds before the tempest's frown, 
That serried grove of lances brown 
At once lay levelled low. 
Scott, L. of the L., vi. 17. 
Serrifera (se-rif'e-ra), n. pi. [NL. (Westwood, 
1840), neut. pi. of serrifer: see serriferous.] In 
entom. , a group of hymenopterous insects: same 
as Phytophaga and Securifera, the saw-flies 
and horntails (Tenthredinidse and Uroceridee). 
serriferous (se-rif 'e-rus), a. [< NL. serrifer, < 
L. serra, a saw, +"ferre = E. bear 1 .] Having 
a serra, or serrate part or organ ; provided with 
serration; serrated. 
serrifonn (ser'i-form), a. [< L. serra, a saw, + 
forma, form.] In entom., toothed like a saw. 
Serrifonn palpi, those palpi in which the last joint 
is securiform and the two preceding ones are dilated in- 
ternally, thus giving a serrate outline to the organ. 
serripalp (ser'i-palp), . [< NL. serripalpus, < 
L. serra, a saw, + NL. palpus, q. v.] Having 
serrate palpi ; of or pertaining to the Serri- 
palpi. 
Serripalpi (ser-i-pal'pi), n. pi. [NL. (Redten- 
bacher, 1845), pi. of serripalpus: see serripalp.] 
Same as Securipalpi. 
serriped (ser'i-ped), a. [< L. serra, a saw, + 
pes (ped-) = E. foot.] Having the feet serrate, 
or serrations on the feet, as an insect. 
serrirostrate (ser-i-ros'trat), a. [< L. serra, a 
saw, 4- rostrum, bill.] Having the bill ser- 
rated with tooth-like processes; odontorhyu- 
chous. See serratirostral. 
serro-motor (ser'o-mo-tor), n. In marine en- 
gines, a steam reversing-gear by which the 
valve is rapidly brought into the position of 
front gear, back gear, or mid gear. The serro- 
motor has a small engine-cylinder, the piston of which is 
connected with the reversing-lever, the movement of the 
latter requiring so much power in large marine engines 
as to render the reversal by hand difficult, and too slow of 
action in a sudden emergency. 
serum 
serrous (ser'us), a. [< L. serra, a saw, + -ou#.] 
Like the teeth of a saw ; irregular ; rough. 
[Rare.] 
If while they [bees and flies] hum we lay our finger on 
the back or other parts, thereupon will be felt a serrous or 
jarring motion, like that which bappeneth while we blow 
on the teeth of a comb through paper. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iii _'?. 
serrula (ser'o-la), .; pi. scrrula (-le). [NL., 
< L. serrula, dim. of serra, a saw: see serra.] 
One of the serrated appendages of the throat 
of the mudfish (Amiu). The anterior one is 
called prif serrula ; the posterior, postserrnlii. 
Each is paired and placed on either side of the copula or 
isthmus which connects the shoulder-girdle with thehyoid 
arch. Also called flabellu-m. 
The serrated appendages (serrula) of the throat of Am ia. 
B. G. WUder, Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., XXV. 269. 
serrulate (ser'o-lat), a. [< NL. "sernilatus, < L. 
wri-ufa, dim.of#emi, asaw: seeserrate.] Fine- 
ly serrate ; having minute serrations. See cut 
under ruin/li-iringed. 
serrulated (ser'o-la-ted), a. [< serrulate + 
-erf 2 .] Same as serrulate. 
serrulation (ser-ij-la'shon), n. [< serrulate + 
-ion.] 1. The state of being serrulate ; forma- 
tion of fine serration, minute notches, or slight 
indentations. 2. One of a set of such small 
teeth ; a denticulation. 
serrurerie (se-rii-rfe-re'), n. [F., ironwork, lock- 
smithing, < serrnre, a lock, < serrer, lock: see 
serr.] In decorative art, ornamental wrought- 
metal work. 
serry (ser'i), y. t. ; pret. and pp. serried, ppr. 
serrying. [First and chiefly in the pp. or p. a. 
serried, which is an accom., with pp. -ed*, of 
F. serre, close, compact, pp. of serrer, close 
firmly or compactly together: see serr, which 
is the reg. form from the F. infinitive.] To 
crowd; press together. [Chiefly in the past 
participle.] 
sertant, seftaynt, serteynt, a. Obsolete spell- 
ings of certain. 
sertest, adr. An obsolete spelling of certes. 
Sertularia (ser-tu-la'ri-a), n. [NL., < L. serta, 
wreaths or garlands of flowers, < ser- 
tus, pp. of serere, plait, interweave, 
entwine : see series.] A Linnean 
genus of polyps, corresponding to 
the modern Sertulariidse or Sertu- 
larida ; the sea-firs, with small ses- 
sile lateral hydrothecse, as S. pu- 
mila or S. abietina. 
sertularian (ser-tu-la'ri-an), a. 
and H. [< NL. Sertularia 4- -an.] 
I. a. Pertaining to the genus Ser- 
tularia in a broad sense, or having 
its characters. Also sertularidan. 
II. n. A member of the group 
to which the genus Sertularia be- 
longs. 
sertularid (ser'tu-lar-id), a. and n. 
sertularidan. 
Sertularida (ser-tu-lar'i-da), n.pl. [NL., < Ser- 
tularia + -ida.] An order or suborder of ca- 
lyptoblastic hydroid polyps, comprising those 
whose hydrosoma (or entire organism) becomes 
fixed by an adherent base, called a liydrorMza, 
developed from the end of the coanosarc, or the 
common medium by which the various polypites 
constituting the compound animal are united. 
These polypites are invariably defended by little cup-like 
expansions called hydrothecsc. The coenosarc generally 
consists of a main stem with many branches, and it Is so 
plant-like in appearance that the common sertularians 
are often mistaken for seaweed, and are often called sea- 
firs. The young sertularian, on escaping from the ovum, 
appears as a free-swimming ciliated body, which soon loses 
its cilia, fixes Itself, and develops a coenosarc, by budding 
from which the branching hydrosoma of the perfect or- 
ganism is produced. 
sertularidan (ser-tu-lar'i-dan), a. and n. [< 
Hcrtularifta + -an.] ' I. a. Same as sertularian. 
II. n. A member of the Sertulariati. 
Sertulariidse (ser'tu-la-ri'i-de), H. pi. [NL.. < 
Sertularia + -idee.] A family of sertularian hy- 
droid polyps or calyptoblastic Hydromedusse, 
typified by the genus Sertularia, having sessile 
polypites in hydrothecse alternating on either 
side of the finely branched polyp-stock, and 
fixed gonophores. 
serum (se'rmn), w. [= F. serum = Sp. suero = 
It. siere, siero, < L. serum, whey, = Gr. op6f, 
whey, < / sar, flow: see salt 1 .] 1. The thin 
part of milk separated from the curd and oil ; 
whey. Also called serum laetix. 2. The clear 
pale-yellow liquid which separates from the 
clot in coagulation of the blood ; blood-serum. 
3. Any serous liquid, as chyle or lymph. Se- 
rum-albumin, albumin of the blood, similar to but dis- 
Same as 
