Process

'prɑːses / 'prəʊses

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To perform a series of actions or steps to achieve a particular result.

'prɑːses

verbneutralBeginner
General

To perform a series of actions to achieve a result.

The factory processes raw materials into finished products.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're making a cake. 'Process' is like following the steps in the recipe – mixing ingredients, baking, and decorating – to get a cake at the end!

👶 For kids: To do things in order to make something happen or to change something.

More Examples

2

We need to process the payment before the order can be shipped.

3

The computer is processing a large amount of data.

How It's Used

Business

"The company will process all new applications within 48 hours."

Computer Science

"The computer must process large amounts of data."

Cooking

"First, process the tomatoes in the food processor."

2

A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

'prɑːses / 'prəʊses

nounneutralBeginner
General

A series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.

The process of writing a book can take many years.

💡 Simply: Think of it like following a recipe. The process is all the steps, like mixing, baking, and decorating, that you do to get something, like a cake!

👶 For kids: The steps you take to make or do something.

More Examples

2

The company is reviewing its internal processes.

3

The process for applying for a visa is quite complex.

How It's Used

Legal

"The legal process can be long and complicated."

Manufacturing

"The manufacturing process is highly automated."

Scientific

"Understanding the process of photosynthesis is crucial."

Tip:Think of the steps to bake a cake: That's the process!
3

A writ or summons issued by a court.

'prɑːses

nounformalmedium
Legal

Legal documents or official summons.

The lawyer prepared all the necessary process for the trial.

💡 Simply: Imagine the official paper work a police officer delivers to a person to get them to appear in court.

👶 For kids: A piece of paper the police give you so you have to go to court.

More Examples

2

The sheriff served the defendant with process.

3

Failure to respond to the process could result in penalties.

How It's Used

Law

"The defendant was served with process."

Tip:Think of a legal document delivered to someone.

Idioms & expressions

in the process of

While something is happening or being done; during the course of.

"I'm in the process of moving to a new apartment."

From Old French *proces* and Latin *processus* ('a going forth, progress, course'), from *procedere* ('to proceed').

The word 'process' has been used in English since the 15th century, initially referring to a course or progress. Its legal sense emerged later.

Memory tip

Think of a recipe; each step is part of the process.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to proceed, go forward"

the manufacturing processthe legal processa complex processprocess the dataprocess the application

Common misspellings

proccessprocesprocces

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written