process

[ pros-es; especially British proh-ses ]
See synonyms for process on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural proc·ess·es [pros-es-iz, ‐uh-siz, ‐uh-seez or, especially British, proh-ses-iz, proh-suh-seez]. /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ‐ə sɪz, ‐əˌsiz or, especially British, ˈproʊ sɛs ɪz, ˈproʊ sə siz/.
  1. a systematic series of actions directed to some end: to devise a process for homogenizing milk.

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

  1. 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.

  2. Photography. photomechanical or photoengraving methods collectively.

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

  4. the action of going forward or on.

  5. the condition of being carried on.

  6. course or lapse, as of time.

verb (used with object)
  1. to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, as in manufacturing.

  2. 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.

  1. to mentally or emotionally deal with and make sense of: Cognitive therapy can be helpful in processing traumatic events and experiences.The disease affects the brain's ability to process bodily sensations.

  2. 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.

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

  4. to institute a legal process against; prosecute.

  5. to serve a process or summons on.

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

verb (used without object)
  1. to deal with something mentally or emotionally and make sense of it: That movie completely blew me away—I’m still processing a week later.

  2. to undergo administrative activities involved in hiring or firing personnel, organizing and reviewing information to make a decision, etc.: The recruits are expected to process in four days.Your application for admission is still processing, but you should hear from us shortly.

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

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

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

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

Origin of process

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English proces (noun), from Old French, from Latin prōcessus “a going forward,” equivalent to prō- pro-1 + ced-, variant stem of cēdere “to yield” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt >ss ; see cede,cession

synonym study For process

1. 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.

pronunciation note For process

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.

Other words for process

Other words from process

  • pro·ces·su·al [pro-sesh-oo-uhl or, especially British, proh-], /prɒˈsɛʃ u əl or, especially British, proʊ-/, adjective
  • o·ver·proc·ess, verb (used with object)
  • pre·proc·ess, verb
  • re·proc·ess, verb (used with object)
  • sem·i·proc·essed, adjective
  • trans·proc·ess, noun
  • un·proc·essed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use process in a sentence

  • Or will we generate more inclusive symbols, or some form of preprocessing, before information is delivered to human beings?

British Dictionary definitions for process (1 of 2)

process1

/ (ˈprəʊsɛs) /


noun
  1. a series of actions that produce a change or development: the process of digestion

  2. a method of doing or producing something

  1. a forward movement

  2. the course of time

    • a summons, writ, etc, commanding a person to appear in court

    • the whole proceedings in an action at law

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

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

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

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

verb(tr)
  1. to subject to a routine procedure; handle

  2. to treat or prepare by a special method, esp to treat (food) in order to preserve it: to process cheese

    • to institute legal proceedings against

    • to serve a process on

  1. photog

    • to develop, rinse, fix, wash, and dry (exposed film, etc)

    • to produce final prints or slides from (undeveloped film)

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

  3. to prepare (food) using a food processor

Origin of process

1
C14: from Old French procès, from Latin prōcessus an advancing, from prōcēdere to proceed

British Dictionary definitions for process (2 of 2)

process2

/ (prəˈsɛs) /


verb
  1. (intr) to proceed in or as if in a procession

Origin of process

2
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