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process

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The definition of a process is the actions happening while something is happening or being done.

(noun)

An example of process is the steps taken by someone to clean a kitchen.
An example of process is a collection of action items to be decided on by government committees.

See process in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. processes

the course of being done: chiefly in
course (of time, etc.)
a continuing development involving many changes: the process of digestion
a particular method of doing something, generally involving a number of steps or operations
☆ a man's hairstyle in which the hair is straightened by applying a chemical preparation and styled
Anat. a projection or outgrowth from a larger structure, usually a bone: the alveolar process of the jaw
Biol. an appendage or projecting part of an organism
Law
1. an action or suit
2. a writ or summons directing a defendant to appear in court or enforcing compliance with a court's orders
3. the total of such writs in any action or proceeding

Origin: ME < OFr proces < L processus, pp. of procedere: see proceed

transitive verb

to prepare by or subject to a special process or method
☆ to straighten and style (hair) by the use of a chemical preparation
Law
1. to prosecute
2. to serve a process on

adjective

prepared by a special treatment or process
of, made by, used in, or using photomechanical or photoengraving methods

Related Forms:

processual adjective

intransitive verb

to go in a procession

Origin: back-form. < procession

See process in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. proc·ess·es (prŏsˈĕsˌĭz, prōˈsĕsˌ-, prŏsˈĭ-sēzˌ, prōˈsĭ-)

A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result: the process of digestion; the process of obtaining a driver's license.
A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of a product: a manufacturing process; leather dyed during the tanning process.
Progress; passage: the process of time; events now in process.
Law The entire course of a judicial proceeding.
Law
a. A summons or writ ordering a defendant to appear in court.
b. The total quantity of summonses or writs issued in a particular proceeding.
Biology An outgrowth of tissue; a projecting part: a bony process.
Any of various photomechanical or photoengraving methods.
Computer Science
a. A running software program or other computing operation.
b. A part of a running software program or other computing operation that does a single task.
See conk³.

transitive verb proc·essed, proc·ess·ing, proc·ess·es

To put through the steps of a prescribed procedure: processing newly arrived immigrants; process an order.
To prepare, treat, or convert by subjecting to a special process: process ore to obtain minerals.
Law
a. To serve with a summons or writ.
b. To institute legal proceedings against; prosecute.
Computer Science To perform operations on (data).
To gain an understanding or acceptance of; come to terms with: processed the traumatic event in therapy.
To straighten (hair) by a chemical process; conk.

adjective

Prepared or converted by a special process: process cheese.
Made by or used in any of several photomechanical or photoengraving processes: a process print.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English proces

Origin: , from Old French, development

Origin: , from Latin prōcessus

Origin: , 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), (prōˈsĕsˌ), is more usual in British English, it is an acceptable variant in American English.

intransitive verb 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).

Origin:

Origin: Back-formation from procession

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