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process [pros-es; especially British proh-ses] Spell Syllables Synonyms Examples Word Origin See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com noun, plural processes [pros-es-iz, ‐uh-siz, ‐uh-seez or, esp. British, proh-ses-iz, proh-suh- seez] (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. the summons, mandate, or writ by which a defendant or thing is brought before court for litigation. 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. verb (used with object) 10. to treat or prepare by some particular series of actions, 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 series of steps, as pasteurization. 14. to institute a legal process against; prosecute. 15. to serve a process or summons on. 16. Computers. to carry out operations on (data or programs). verb (used without object) 18. to undergo the activities involved in hiring or firing personnel: The recruits expected to process in four days. adjective 19. prepared or modified by an artificial process or procedure: process cheese. 20. noting, pertaining to, or involving photomechanical or photoengraving methods: a process print. 21. Informal. of or relating to hair that has been conked, or chemically straightened. 22. Movies. created by or used in process cinematography : a moving background on a process screen. Explore Dictionary.com The Oldest Words in English Only 90s Kids Will Get These Words The Saddest Words in English Insults We Should Bring Back Origin of process Expand Middle EnglishOld FrenchLatin 1275-13251275-1325; 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 Expand processual [pro-sesh-oo-uh l or, esp. British, proh-] (Show IPA), adjective overprocess, verb (used with object) preprocess, verb reprocess, verb (used with object) semiprocessed, adjective Synonyms Expand See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com 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 Expand The word process, an early 14th century French borrowing, has a regularly formed plural that adds -esto the singular. This plural, as in similar words like recessesand successes,has traditionally been pronounced [-iz] (Show IPA) [pros-es-iz, proh-ses-] or [pros-uh-siz, proh-suh-] . Recent years have seen the increasing popularity of an [-eez] pronunciation for processes, perhaps by mistaken analogy with such plurals as thesesand hypotheses,with which it has no connection. Although this newer pronunciation is increasingly common, it is regarded by some educated speakers as an affectation.