process

[ pros-es; especially British proh-ses ]

/ ˈprɒs ɛs; especially British ˈproʊ sɛs /

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noun, plural proc·ess·es [pros-es-iz, ‐uh-siz, ‐uh-seez or, esp. British, proh-ses-iz, proh-suh-seez] /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ‐ə sɪz, ‐əˌsiz or, esp. British, ˈproʊ sɛs ɪz, ˈproʊ sə siz/.

a systematic series of actions directed to some end: to devise a process for homogenizing milk.

a continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner: the process of decay.

Law.

the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
the whole course of the proceedings in an action at law.

Photography. photomechanical or photoengraving methods collectively.

Biology, Anatomy. a natural outgrowth, projection, or appendage: a process of a bone.

the action of going forward or on.

the condition of being carried on.

course or lapse, as of time.

conk⁴(defs 1, 2).

verb (used with object)

to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.

to handle (papers, records, etc.) by systematically organizing them, recording or making notations on them, following up with appropriate action, or the like: to process mail.

to require (someone) to answer questionnaires, perform various tasks, and sometimes to undergo physical and aptitude classification examinations before the beginning or termination of a period of service: The army processes all personnel entering or leaving the service.

to convert (an agricultural commodity) into marketable form by a special series of steps, as pasteurization.

to institute a legal process against; prosecute.

to serve a process or summons on.

Computers. to carry out operations on (data or programs).

conk⁴(def 3).

verb (used without object)

to undergo the activities involved in hiring or firing personnel: The recruits expected to process in four days.

adjective

prepared or modified by an artificial process or procedure: process cheese.

noting, pertaining to, or involving photomechanical or photoengraving methods: a process print.

Informal. of or relating to hair that has been conked, or chemically straightened.

Movies. created by or used in process cinematography: a moving background on a process screen.

Nearby words

procentriole, procephalic, procercoid, procerity, procerus muscle, process, process camera, process cinematography, process colour, process costing, process engineering

Origin of process

1275–1325; Middle English proces (noun) (< Old French) < Latin prōcessus a going forward, equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + ced-, variant stem of cēdere to yield (see cede) + -tus suffix of v. action; see cession

SYNONYMS FOR process

1 operation. Process, procedure, proceeding apply to something that goes on or takes place. A process is a series of progressive and interdependent steps by which an end is attained: a chemical process. Procedure usually implies a formal or set order of doing a thing, a method of conducting affairs: parliamentary procedure. Proceeding (usually pl.) applies to what goes on or takes place on a given occasion or to the records of the occasion: Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

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Related forms

pro·ces·su·al

[pro-sesh-oo-uhl or, esp. British, proh-] /prɒˈsɛʃ u əl or, esp. British, proʊ-/, adjectiveo·ver·proc·ess, verb (used with object)pre·proc·ess, verbre·proc·ess, verb (used with object)

sem·i·proc·essed, adjectivetrans·proc·ess, nounun·proc·essed, adjective

Pronunciation note

The word process, an early 14th century French borrowing, has a regularly formed plural that adds -es to the singular. This plural, as in similar words like recesses and successes, has traditionally been pronounced

[-iz] /-ɪz/:

[pros-es-iz, proh-ses-] /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ˈproʊ sɛs-/ or

[pros-uh-siz, proh-suh-] /ˈprɒs ə sɪz, ˈproʊ sə-/. Recent years have seen the increasing popularity of an

[-eez] /-ˌiz/ pronunciation for processes, perhaps by mistaken analogy with such plurals as theses and hypotheses, with which it has no connection. Although this newer pronunciation is increasingly common, it is regarded by some educated speakers as an affectation.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for processes

The billionaire philanthropist tastes the product of a machine that processes human sewage into drinking water and electricity.
Bill Gates Drinks Sewer Water|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Often, the processes that result in death begin when the heart stops beating.
What It’s Like to Wake Up Dead|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are 17 processes herein, which collectively take four years for a craftsman to master.
Behind the Wheel of the Bespoke Bentley|Zoe Settle|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its core information—materials, processes, electronic tricks, and RCS numbers—needs to be protected.
How the Pentagon Strangles Its Most Advanced Stealth Warplanes|Bill Sweetman|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Fintech processes payments for the alcoholic beverage industry.
The Sleazy War on the Humane Society|Center for Public Integrity|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their system must have been composed of a collection of processes and receipts which grew in number as the centuries passed away.
A History of Art in Ancient Egypt, Vol. II (of 2)|Georges Perrot
There is not first a stimulus, then perception, then response; these processes are supplementary, not separate.
John Dewey's logical theory|Delton Thomas Howard
As these myriads of smaller organisms are parts and processes of us, so are we but parts and processes of life at large.
Life and Habit|Samuel Butler
The processes may be employed very efficaciously and with certainty of success.
Scientific American Supplement, Vol. XIX, No. 470, Jan. 3, 1885|Various
Better "processes" were continually being looked for, as in Colorado, with which it was hoped much poorer ores would pay well.
Across America|James F. Rusling

British Dictionary definitions for processes (1 of 2)

process

/ (ˈprəʊsɛs) /

noun

a series of actions that produce a change or developmentthe process of digestion

a method of doing or producing something

a forward movement

the course of time

a summons, writ, etc, commanding a person to appear in court
the whole proceedings in an action at law

a natural outgrowth or projection of a part, organ, or organism

a distinct subtask of a computer system which can be regarded as proceeding in parallel with other subtasks of the system

(modifier) relating to the general preparation of a printing forme or plate by the use, at some stage, of photography

(modifier) denoting a film, film scene, shot, etc, made by techniques that produce unusual optical effects

verb (tr)

to subject to a routine procedure; handle

to treat or prepare by a special method, esp to treat (food) in order to preserve itto process cheese

to institute legal proceedings against
to serve a process on

photog

to develop, rinse, fix, wash, and dry (exposed film, etc)
to produce final prints or slides from (undeveloped film)

computing to perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information

to prepare (food) using a food processor

Word Origin for process

C14: from Old French procès, from Latin prōcessus an advancing, from prōcēdere to proceed

British Dictionary definitions for processes (2 of 2)

process

/ (prəˈsɛs) /

verb

(intr) to proceed in or as if in a procession

Word Origin for process

C19: back formation from procession

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for processes (1 of 3)

process

early 14c., "fact of being carried on" (e.g. in process), from Old French proces "a journey; continuation, development; legal trial" (13c.) and directly from Latin processus "a going forward, advance, progress," from past participle stem of procedere "go forward" (see proceed).

Meaning "course or method of action" is from mid-14c.; sense of "continuous series of actions meant to accomplish some result" (the main modern sense) is from 1620s. Legal sense of "course of action of a suit at law" is attested from early 14c.

Word Origin and History for processes (1 of 3)

process

v.1

1530s, "begin legal action against," from Middle French processer "to prosecute," from proces (see process (n.)). Meaning "prepare by special process" is from 1881, from the noun in English. Of persons, "to register and examine," by 1935. Related: Processed; processing.

Word Origin and History for processes (2 of 3)

process

v.2

"to go in procession," 1814, "A colloquial or humorous back-formation" from procession [OED]. Accent on second syllable.

Medicine definitions for processes

process

[ prŏs′ĕs′, prō′sĕs′ ]

n. pl. proc•ess•es (prŏs′ĕs′ĭz, prō′sĕs′-, prŏs′ĭ-sēz′, prō′sĭ-)

A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result.

Advance or progress, as of a disease.

An outgrowth of tissue; a projecting part, as of a bone.

Related formsproc′ess adj.proc′ess v.

process