process

[pros-es; especially British proh-ses] /ˈprɒs ɛs; especially British ˈproʊ sɛs/
noun, plural processes
[pros-es-iz, ‐uh-siz, ‐uh-seez or, esp. British, proh-ses‐, proh-suh‐] /ˈprɒs ɛs ɪz, ‐ə sɪz, ‐əˌsiz or, esp. British, ˈproʊ sɛs‐, ˈproʊ sə‐/ (Show IPA)
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.
  1. the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation.
  2. 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.
conk4 (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.
conk4 (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; 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
Related forms
processual
[pro-sesh-oo-uh l or, esp. British, proh-] /prɒˈsɛʃ u əl or, esp. British, proʊ-/ (Show IPA), adjective
overprocess, verb (used with object)
preprocess, verb
reprocess, verb (used with object)
semiprocessed, adjective
transprocess, noun
unprocessed, 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] /-ɪz/ (Show IPA)
[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. This newer pronunciation is common among younger educated speakers.
Examples from the web for processes
  • The brain processes musical nuance in many ways, it turns out.
  • Develops processes and procedures for operation of grant in compliance with terms of grant.
  • These form the end points of transfer processes that start with the removal of electrons from water.
  • Natural hazards are the result of physical processes that affect humans every day.
  • Moments of brilliance arise from complex cognitive processes.
  • And these processes are accelerating due to climate change.
  • Sustainable materials and building processes will be used whenever possible.
  • Damage to the liver can impair these and many other processes.
  • Participation in the accreditation review processes and service to the department, college, and university community preferred.
  • But there are special reasons why the ordinary processes of mobilising the public should be strained at the moment.
British Dictionary definitions for processes

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
3.
a forward movement
4.
the course of time
5.
  1. a summons, writ, etc, commanding a person to appear in court
  2. the whole proceedings in an action at law
6.
a natural outgrowth or projection of a part, organ, or organism
7.
a distinct subtask of a computer system which can be regarded as proceeding in parallel with other subtasks of the system
8.
(modifier) relating to the general preparation of a printing forme or plate by the use, at some stage, of photography
9.
(modifier) denoting a film, film scene, shot, etc, made by techniques that produce unusual optical effects
verb (transitive)
10.
to subject to a routine procedure; handle
11.
to treat or prepare by a special method, esp to treat (food) in order to preserve it: to process cheese
12.
  1. to institute legal proceedings against
  2. to serve a process on
13.
(photog)
  1. to develop, rinse, fix, wash, and dry (exposed film, etc)
  2. to produce final prints or slides from (undeveloped film)
14.
(computing) to perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information
15.
to prepare (food) using a food processor
Word Origin
C14: from Old French procès, from Latin prōcessus an advancing, from prōcēdere to proceed

process2

/prəˈsɛs/
verb
1.
(intransitive) to proceed in or as if in a procession
Word Origin
C19: back formation from procession
Word Origin and History for processes

process

n.

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.

v.

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.

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

processes in Medicine

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.