protocol

[ proh-tuh-kawl, -kol, -kohl ]

noun

1. the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.
2. an original draft, minute, or record from which a document, especially a treaty, is prepared.
3. a supplementary international agreement.
4. an agreement between states.
5. an annex to a treaty giving data relating to it.
6. Medicine/Medical. the plan for carrying out a scientific study or a patient's treatment regimen.
7. Computers. a set of rules governing the format of messages that are exchanged between computers.
8. Also called protocol statement, Philosophy. a statement reporting an observation or experience in the most fundamental terms without interpretation: sometimes taken as the basis of empirical verification, as of scientific laws.

verb (used without object)

1. to draft or issue a protocol.

protocol

/ ˈprəʊtəˌkɒl /

noun

1. the formal etiquette and code of behaviour, precedence, and procedure for state and diplomatic ceremonies
2. a memorandum or record of an agreement, esp one reached in international negotiations, a meeting, etc
3. chiefly US
   1. a record of data or observations on a particular experiment or proceeding
   2. an annexe appended to a treaty to deal with subsidiary matters or to render the treaty more lucid
   3. a formal international agreement or understanding on some matter
4. an amendment to a treaty or convention
5. philosophy a statement that is immediately verifiable by experience In fullprotocol statement See logical positivism
6. computing the set form in which data must be presented for handling by a particular computer configuration, esp in the transmission of information between different computer systems

protocol

/ prō′tə-kôl′,-kōl′ /

1. The plan for a course of medical treatment or for a scientific experiment.
2. A set of standardized procedures for transmitting or storing data, especially those used in regulating data transmission between computers or peripherals.

Other Words From

• pro·to·col·ar [proh-t, uh, -, kol, -er], proto·cola·ry proto·colic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of protocol¹

First recorded in 1535–45; earlier protocoll, from Medieval Latin prōtocollum, from Late Greek prōtókollon originally, “a leaf or tag attached to a rolled papyrus manuscript and containing notes as to contents.” See proto-, colloid

Word History and Origins

Origin of protocol¹

C16: from Medieval Latin prōtocollum, from Late Greek prōtokollon sheet glued to the front of a manuscript, from proto- + kolla glue

Example Sentences

The new information consisted of Internet protocol addresses that Comey said are “exclusively used” by North Korea.

From The Daily Beast

And in a big departure from established royal protocol, Prince George might even get a—gasp—present to open on Christmas Day.

From The Daily Beast

There were not just one, not two but THREE breaches of protocol last night.

From The Daily Beast

What should the protocol be for engaging people on the street who offer unsolicited “compliments?”

From The Daily Beast

“New Jersey is not changing its quarantine protocol,” Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts told reporters in a statement.

From The Daily Beast

For a month before the Protocol was signed the relations between Spaniards and Americans were verging towards a crisis.

From Project Gutenberg

Three days later, on May 8, a protocol was signed concerning the Danish succession.

From Project Gutenberg

See the list of members in the protocol of the proceedings first published in the Bulletin de la Socit de l'hist.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of the day, every Internet protocol is just a sequence of text sent back and forth in a prescribed order.

From Project Gutenberg

Domain Name Service is an interesting and ancient Internet protocol, dating back to 1983.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agreement
• code
• contract
• covenant
• custom
• obligation
• pact