I. ˈprä]ˌses also ˈprō] or ]_sə̇s noun
( plural processes “+ə̇z also ÷]_sə̇ˌsēz sometimes ÷]ˌse(ˌ)sēz)
Etymology: Middle English proces, processe, process, from Middle French proces, from Latin processus, from processus, past participle of procedere to proceed — more at proceed
1.
a. : a progressive forward movement from one point to another on the way to completion : the action of passing through continuing development from a beginning to a contemplated end : the action of continuously going along through each of a succession of acts, events, or developmental stages : the action of being progressively advanced or progressively done : continued onward movement
the job is not yet finished but is still in process
many other questions are in process of discussion — Vera M. Dean
social process
links in the endless interlocking chain of causation and concomitance that constitutes the process of history — Max Lerner & Edwin Mims
in the process of governing people of so many races — Vernon Bartlett
did his best to educate himself, and in the process he developed a profound respect for education — Oscar Schisgall
b. : continued onward flow : course
in the process of time
c. : something (as a series of actions, happenings, or experiences) going on or carried on : proceeding
standing in the cold was not a pleasant process
behind the arras I'll convey myself to hear the process — Shakespeare
d.
(1) : 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
: a natural continuing activity or function
such life processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood
(2) : an artificial or voluntary progressively continuing operation that consists of a series of controlled actions or movements systematically directed toward a particular result or end
the process governing the mechanism of a clock
cannot be achieved by any deductive process — J.H.Steward
explanations of … how the editorial process worked — A.S.Link
(3) : a set of facts, circumstances, or experiences that are observed and described or that can be observed and described throughout each of a series of changes continuously succeeding each other : a phenomenon or condition marked by a series of slow or rapid changes throughout a period of time
the process of decay
a pathological process
tuberculous process
(4) : a succession of related changes by which one thing gradually becomes something else
a new theory of evolutionary process
e. : a particular method or system of doing something, producing something, or accomplishing a specific result ; especially : a particular method or system used in a manufacturing operation
a process of making steel
or other technical operation
a chemical process
2.
[Middle English proces, processe, from Middle French proces, from Medieval Latin processus, from Latin]
a. : the course of procedure in a judicial action or in a suit in litigation : legal action
changed his name by legal process — Current Biography
federal process … does not have to be confined to state borders — Va. Law Review
b.
(1) : a summons, mandate, or writ that serves as the means used to bring a defendant into court to answer in a judicial action or in a suit in litigation ; also : a writ by which a court exercises its jurisdiction over the parties or subject matter of judicial action or of a suit in litigation
process for their appearance has been duly issued — Detroit Law Journal
(2) : the whole body of such summonses, mandates, or writs
3. obsolete : report , account
the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abused — Shakespeare
4. : a part of the mass of an organism or organic structure that projects outward from the main mass
a bone process
a parasite that puts forth processes resembling tentacles
5. obsolete : a royal edict
6. Roman Catholicism : the canonical procedure followed in beatification or canonization
II. verb
( processed “+t ; processed “+t ; processing “+iŋ ; processes “+ə̇z)
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle French processer, from proces; in other senses, from process (I)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to proceed against by law : prosecute
the debt for which they were processed — H.W.V.Stuart
b.
(1) : to take out a summons against
(2) : to serve a summons on
warned that they would process him
2. : to subject to a particular method, system, or technique of preparation, handling, or other treatment designed to effect a particular result : put through a special process: as
a.
(1) : to prepare for market, manufacture, or other commercial use by subjecting to some process
processing cattle by slaughtering them
processed the milk by pasteurizing it
processing grain by milling
processing cotton by spinning
(2) : to make usable by special treatment
processing rancid butter
processing waste material
processed the water to remove impurities
b.
(1) : to subject to rapid examination and handling designed to dispose of routine details (as by recording preliminary data of or about)
processing books for a library
efficiently processed the invoices
(2) : to subject to rapid examination and handling designed to produce a preliminary classification based on apparent skills, aptitudes, and other qualifications
processing applicants
processing army recruits
(3) : to take care of, attend to, or dispose of by some largely routine procedure
quickly processed the loan requested by the firm
(4) : to subject to examination and analysis
processing data radioed by a space rocket
where news from everywhere is processed — F.L.Mott
3. : to produce a copy of by a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
a processed publication
intransitive verb
: to process something
III. adjective
Etymology: process (I)
1. : prepared, handled, treated, or produced by a special process: as
a. : made by some special synthetic process
process fuels
process sugar
b. : made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process
process publications
process ink
c. : made by special equipment or techniques so as to produce an optical effect not otherwise attainable
a motion picture that has a number of remarkable process scenes
2.
a. : used in producing special effects
a process motion-picture camera
b. : used in making colored reproductions in almost any hue or shade by printing from halftone plates in usually three or more colors (as red, yellow, blue)
IV. prəˈses, prōˈs-\ intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: back-formation from procession (I)
: to move along : go ; especially : to move along in or as if in a procession
processed slowly through the town, conversing amiably — Thomas Wood †1950