First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1process
noun pro·cess \ˈprä-ˌses, ˈprō-, -səs\
: a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result
: a series of changes that happen naturally
medical : something that sticks out of something else
plural pro·cess·es \-ˌse-səz, -sə-, -ˌsēz\
Full Definition of PROCESS
1
a : progress, advance <in the process of time> b : something going on : proceeding
2
a (1) : a natural phenomenon marked by gradual changes that lead toward a particular result <the process of growth> (2) : a continuing natural or biological activity or function <such life processes as breathing> b : a series of actions or operations conducing to an end; especially : a continuous operation or treatment especially in manufacture
3
a : the whole course of proceedings in a legal action b : the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders
4
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure <a bone process> <a nerve cell process>
5
: 6conk
See process defined for English-language learners
See process defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of PROCESS
Middle English proces, from Anglo-French procés, from Latin processus, from procedere
Related to PROCESS
- Synonyms
- course, operation, procedure, proceeding
- Antonyms
- recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression
Rhymes with PROCESS
abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress
2process
verb
Definition of PROCESS
transitive verb
1
2
a : to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development) b (1) : to subject to or handle through an established usually routine set of procedures <process insurance claims> (2) : to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated <the brain processes visual images relayed from the retina> (3) : to subject to examination or analysis <computers process data> c : to work (hair) into a conk
First Known Use of PROCESS
1532
Rhymes with PROCESS
3process
adjective
Definition of PROCESS
1
: treated or made by a special process especially when involving synthesis or artificial modification
2
: made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
3
: of or involving illusory effects usually introduced during processing of the film
First Known Use of PROCESS
1888
4process
verb pro·cess \prə-ˈses\
Definition of PROCESS
intransitive verb
chiefly British : to move in a procession
Origin of PROCESS
back-formation from 1procession
First Known Use: 1814
PROCESS Defined for Kids
1process
noun pro·cess \ˈprä-ˌses, ˈprō-\
Definition of PROCESS for Kids
1
: a series of actions, motions, or operations leading to some result <the manufacturing process>
2
: a series of changes that occur naturally <the growth process>
2process
verb
pro·cessedpro·cess·ing
Definition of PROCESS for Kids
1
: to change by a special treatment <The fruit is picked and processed for shipment.>
2
: to take care of according to a routine <His job is to process insurance claims.>
3
: to take in and organize for use <Computers process data.>
Medical Dictionary
process
noun pro·cess \ˈpräs-ˌes, ˈprōs-, -əs\
Medical Definition of PROCESS
1
a : a natural progressively continuing operation or development marked by a series of gradual changes that succeed one another in a relatively fixed way and lead toward a particular result or end <the process of growth> <the process of digestion> b : a natural continuing activity or function <such life processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood>
2
: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure <a bone process> <a nerve cell process>
Learn More About PROCESS
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: processablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: procerityAll Words Near: process
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up process? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).