serial processing
- noun
- /ˈsɪəriəl ˈprəʊsɛsɪŋ/
- Specialized
- Default serial processing of conversational uncertainty refers to the reader's use of unmarked comprehension strategies to resolve conversational ambiguities.
- default serial processing
Examples
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The teacher emphasized that effective learning often requires serial processing of information to build understanding step by step.
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The Default Serial Processing of Conversational Uncertainty
Academic text (2005) -
A slightly more complex example of default serial processing relates to Oliver's ambiguous reply to Sowerberry regarding the undertaking business:
Academic text (2005) -
In serial processing, each task must be completed before the next begins, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
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Many software applications utilize serial processing to manage tasks one after another without overlap.
Synonyms
Tasks happen one after another, each starting after the last finishes
Antonyms
- Specialized
Using two or more processors at the same time to do work faster
How Sequential
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'processing information or tasks in a sequence' is directly and compositionally derived from 'serial' (arranged consecutively) plus 'processing' (a series of systematic actions). This transparent adjective + noun combination follows standard English compounding and is cross-linguistically predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Serial processing uses the image of a single line: serial means in a row and processing means working on something. So, like people on one work line where each person finishes before the next starts, it means 'doing tasks one after another'.