pro ‧ to ‧ col AC /ˈprəʊtəkɒl $ ˈproʊtəkɒːl, -kɑːl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: prothocole , from Late Greek protokollon 'first page of a document' , from kolla 'glue' ]
1 . [uncountable] a system of rules about the correct way to behave on an official occasion:
a breach of diplomatic protocol
2 . [countable] formal
a) an international agreement between two or more countries:
the Montreal Protocol on the protection of the ozone layer
b) a written record of a formal or international agreement, or an early form of an agreement
3 . [countable] technical an established method for connecting computers so that they can exchange information
4 . [countable] technical a set of rules that are followed when doing a scientific ↑ experiment or giving someone medical treatment