processing

[pros-es-ing, proh-ses-ing]

noun

1. the act of treating or preparing something by a particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.

   In the processing of taconite, the ore is ground to a fine powder and the iron separated out with strong magnets.

2. the conversion of an agricultural commodity into marketable form by a particular series of steps.

   Regular inspections should take place at every stage of the processing of meat.

3. the act of handling records, papers, etc., systematically by organizing them, annotating or making decisions about them, following up with appropriate action, etc..

   To avoid delay in the processing of applications, please make sure the information you submit is complete and accurate.

4. the act of mentally or emotionally absorbing and making sense of what one has experienced or perceived.

   The second phase of the treatment involves the emotional processing of the traumatic events in a safe and supportive environment.

   The thalamus is closely integrated with the cerebral cortex and is responsible for the initial processing of all sensory information except smell.

5. Computers.,  the act of carrying out operations on data or programs.

   By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

6. the act of requiring someone to answer questionnaires, perform various tasks, undergo physical or aptitude examinations, etc., before the beginning or termination of a period of service.

   The Navy began the initial processing of a new batch of recruits in January.

Word History and Origins

Origin of processing¹

First recorded in 1870–75; 1945–50 processing for def. 5; process ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

It powered the PC revolution with its central processing units that went inside all Windows computers.

From Los Angeles Times

Primacy belongs to the brain, which dedicates around half of its resources to processing visual information; hence, vision’s intimate relationship to emotion and intuition.

From Salon

At NFL games across the United States this past weekend, tributes were made to a man who claimed Black women like Michelle Obama “do not have the brain processing power” of their white colleagues.

From Salon

That’s right, I have to go do that, don’t I?” he says, still very much processing his first Emmy nomination.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are not wired as human beings — biologically, historically — we have not evolved in a way that we are capable of processing those types of violent imagery,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

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