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Definition of process - 11 dictionary results

proc⋅ess

  [pros-es; especially Brit. proh-ses] noun, plural proc⋅ess⋅es  [pros-es-iz, ‑uh-siz, ‑uh-seez or, especially Brit., proh-ses‑, proh-suh‑] , verb, adjective
Use process in a Sentence
–noun
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.
3. Law.
a. the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
b. the whole course of the proceedings in an action at law.
4. Photography. photomechanical or photoengraving methods collectively.
5. Biology, Anatomy. a natural outgrowth, projection, or appendage: a process of a bone.
6. the action of going forward or on.
7. the condition of being carried on.
8. course or lapse, as of time.
9. conk 4 (defs. 1, 2).
–verb (used with object)
10. to treat or prepare by some particular process, as in manufacturing.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. to convert (an agricultural commodity) into marketable form by a special process, as pasteurization.
14. to institute a legal process against.
15. to serve a process or summons on.
16. Computers. to carry out operations on (data or programs).
17. conk 4 (def. 3).
–verb (used without object)
18. to undergo the activities involved in processing personnel: The recruits expected to process in four days.
–adjective
19. prepared or modified by an artificial process: process cheese.
20. noting, pertaining to, or involving photomechanical or photoengraving methods: a process print.
21. Informal. of or pertaining to hair that has been conked.
22. Movies. created by or used in process cinematography: a moving background on a process screen.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME proces (n.) (< OF) < L prōcessus a going forward, equiv. to prō- pro- 1 + ced-, var. s. of cēdere to yield (see cede ) + -tus suffix of v. action; see cession

Related forms:
pro⋅ces⋅su⋅al  [pro-sesh-oo-uhl or, especially Brit., proh-] , adjective

Synonyms:
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.

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] :  [pros-es-iz, proh-ses-] or [pros-uh-siz, proh-suh-]. Recent years have seen the increasing popularity of an [-eez] pronunciation for processes, perhaps by mistaken analogy with such plurals as theses and hypotheses, with which it has no connection. This newer pronunciation is common among younger educated speakers.

conk

4  [kongk, kawngk] Slang.
–noun
1. a method of chemically straightening the hair.
2. a hairstyle in which the hair has been chemically straightened and sometimes set into waves.
–verb (used with object)
3. to straighten (kinky hair) by the use of chemicals: to have one's hair conked.
Also, process.

Origin:
prob. shortening and alter. of congolene, alleged to be the name of a hair straightener made from Congo copal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To process
conk 3   (kŏngk)   
n.  A hairstyle in which the hair is straightened, usually by chemical means. Also called process1.
tr.v.   conked, conk·ing, conks
To straighten (tightly curled hair) usually by chemical means.

[Perhaps alteration of congolene, substance for straightening hair.]
proc·ess 1   (prŏs'ěs', prō'sěs')   
n.   pl. proc·ess·es (prŏs'ěs'ĭz, prō'sěs'-, prŏs'ĭ-sēz', prō'sĭ-)
  1. A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result: the process of digestion; the process of obtaining a driver's license.
  2. A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of a product: a manufacturing process; leather dyed during the tanning process.
  3. Progress; passage: the process of time; events now in process.
  4. Law The entire course of a judicial proceeding.
  5. Law
    1. A summons or writ ordering a defendant to appear in court.
    2. The total quantity of summonses or writs issued in a particular proceeding.
    3. A running software program or other computing operation.
    4. A part of a running software program or other computing operation that does a single task.
  6. Biology An outgrowth of tissue; a projecting part: a bony process.
  7. Any of various photomechanical or photoengraving methods.
  8. Computer Science
    1. A running software program or other computing operation.
    2. A part of a running software program or other computing operation that does a single task.
  9. See conk3.
tr.v.   proc·essed, proc·ess·ing, proc·ess·es
  1. To put through the steps of a prescribed procedure: processing newly arrived immigrants; process an order.
  2. To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process: process ore to obtain minerals.
  3. Law
    1. To serve with a summons or writ.
    2. To institute legal proceedings against; prosecute.
  4. Computer Science To perform operations on (data).
  5. To gain an understanding or acceptance of; come to terms with: processed the traumatic event in therapy.
  6. To straighten (hair) by a chemical process; conk.
adj.  
  1. Prepared or converted by a special process: process cheese.
  2. Made by or used in any of several photomechanical or photoengraving processes: a process print.

[Middle English proces, from Old French, development, from Latin prōcessus, from past participle of prōcēdere, to advance; see proceed.]
Usage Note: In recent years there has been a tendency to pronounce the plural ending -es of processes as (-ēz), perhaps by analogy with words of Greek origin such as analysis and neurosis. But process is not of Greek origin, and there is no etymological justification for this pronunciation of its plural. However, because this pronunciation is not uncommon even in educated speech, it is generally considered an acceptable variant, although it still strikes some listeners as a bungled affectation. In a recent survey 79 percent of the Usage Panel preferred the standard pronunciation (-ĭz) for the plural ending -es and 15 percent preferred the pronunciation (-ēz). · Although the pronunciation for process with a long (o), (prō'sěs'), is more usual in British English, it is an acceptable variant in American English.
pro·cess 2   (prə-sěs')   
intr.v.   pro·cessed, pro·cess·ing, pro·cess·es
To move along in or as if in a procession: "The man in the panama hat offered his arm and ... they processed into the dining room" (Anita Brookner).

[Back-formation from procession.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Process

Proc"ess\, n. [F. proc[`e]s, L. processus. See Proceed.]

1. The act of proceeding; continued forward movement; procedure; progress; advance. "Long process of time." --Milton.

The thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns. --Tennyson.

2. A series of actions, motions, or occurrences; progressive act or transaction; continuous operation; normal or actual course or procedure; regular proceeding; as, the process of vegetation or decomposition; a chemical process; processes of nature.

Tell her the process of Antonio's end. --Shak.

3. A statement of events; a narrative. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

4. (Anat. & Zo["o]l.) Any marked prominence or projecting part, especially of a bone; anapophysis.

5. (Law) The whole course of proceedings in a cause real or personal, civil or criminal, from the beginning to the end of the suit; strictly, the means used for bringing the defendant into court to answer to the action; -- a generic term for writs of the class called judicial.

Deacon's process [from H. Deacon, who introduced it] (Chem.), a method of obtaining chlorine gas by passing hydrochloric acid gas over heated slag which has been previously saturated with a solution of some metallic salt, as sulphate of copper.

Final process (Practice), a writ of execution in an action at law. --Burrill.

In process, in the condition of advance, accomplishment, transaction, or the like; begun, and not completed.

Jury process (Law), the process by which a jury is summoned in a cause, and by which their attendance is enforced. --Burrill.

Leblanc's process (Chem.), the process of manufacturing soda by treating salt with sulphuric acid, reducing the sodium sulphate so formed to sodium sulphide by roasting with charcoal, and converting the sodium sulphide to sodium carbonate by roasting with lime.

Mesne process. See under Mesne.

Process milling, the process of high milling for grinding flour. See under Milling.

Reversible process (Thermodynamics), any process consisting of a cycle of operations such that the different operations of the cycle can be performed in reverse order with a reversal of their effects.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : process
Spanish: proceso,
German: das Verfahren,
Japanese: 製法
More Translations »

process  (n.)
c.1330, "fact of being carried on" (e.g. in process), from O.Fr. proces "journey" (13c.), from L. processus "process, advance, progress," from pp. stem of procedere "go forward" (see proceed). Meaning "course or method of action" is from 1340; sense of "continuous series of actions meant to accomplish some result" (the main modern sense) is from 1627. Legal sense of "course of action of a suit at law" is attested from c.1325. Verb meaning "prepare by special process" first recorded 1884; processor is 1909; data processor is 1958; word processor is c.1974; food processor is 1977.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: pro·cess
Pronunciation: 'prä-"ses, 'prO-
Function: noun
1 : a continuous operation, art, or method esp. in manufacture process…may obtain a patent therefor —U.S. Code>
2 a : PROCEDURE 1 —see also ABUSE OF PROCESS, DUE PROCESS b : a means (as a summons) used to compel a defendant to appear in court; broadly : a means by which a court acquires or exercises jurisdiction over a person or property —see also MESNE PROCESS —compare NOTICE, SERVICE
NOTE: In civil procedure, service of a summons on a defendant is considered constitutionally sufficient process, although usually a copy of the complaint must also be provided according to the local rule of procedure.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: pro·cess
Pronunciation: 'präs-"es, 'prOs-, -&s
Function: noun
1 a : a natural progressively continuing operation ordevelopment marked by a series of gradual changes that succeed one another in a relatively fixed way and lead toward a particular result or end process of growth> process of digestion> b : a natural continuing activity or function processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood>
2 : a part of the mass of an organism or organic structure that projects outward from the main mass process> processes resemblingtentacles>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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process proc·ess (prŏs'ěs', prō'sěs')
n. pl. proc·ess·es (prŏs'ěs'ĭz, prō'sěs'-, prŏs'ĭ-sēz', prō'sĭ-)

  1. A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result.
  2. Advance or progress, as of a disease.
  3. An outgrowth of tissue; a projecting part, as of a bone.
proc'ess adj.
proc'ess v.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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process
1. The sequence of states of an executing program. A process consists of the program code (which may be shared with other processes which are executing the same program), private data, and the state of the processor, particularly the values in its registers. It may have other associated resources such as a process identifier, open files, CPU time limits, shared memory, child processes, and signal handlers.
One process may, on some platforms, consist of many threads. A multitasking operating system can run multiple processes concurrently or in parallel, and allows a process to spawn "child" processes.
(2001-06-16)
2. The sequence of activities, people, and systems involved in carrying out some business or achieving some desired result. E.g. software development process, project management process, configuration management process.
(2001-06-16)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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