Process - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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Other forms: processes; processing; processed

A process is a procedure, something you do in order to achieve a certain result. Some people try to carefully follow all the steps in a process. Other people just wing it.

You hear this word being used a lot to describe work. "I am in the process of drafting a memo, even if I kill myself with late nights in the process." The related word procession describes people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly way — a wedding opens with the bridal procession.

Definitions of process

noun a particular course of action intended to achieve a result “it was a process of trial and error” synonyms: procedure see moresee less types: show 43 types... hide 43 types... Bertillon system a system or procedure for identifying persons fingerprinting the procedure of taking inked impressions of a person's fingerprints for the purpose of identification genetic fingerprinting, genetic profiling the procedure of analyzing the DNA in samples of a person's body tissue or body fluid for the purpose of identification diagnostic procedure, diagnostic technique a procedure followed in making a medical diagnosis emergency procedure (medicine) a procedure adopted to meet an emergency (especially a medical emergency) experimental procedure the specific techniques used in conducting a particular experiment calculation, computation, computing the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods medical procedure a procedure employed by medical or dental practitioners chromosome mapping, mapping (genetics) the process of locating genes on a chromosome operating procedure a procedure for operating something or for dealing with a given situation stiffening the act of becoming stiff indirection indirect procedure or action rigamarole, rigmarole a long and complicated and confusing procedure modus operandi, routine an unvarying or habitual method or procedure condition, experimental condition the procedure that is varied in order to estimate a variable's effect by comparison with a control condition formula, rule (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems prenatal diagnosis any of the diagnostic procedures used to determine whether a fetus has a genetic abnormality double-blind experiment, double-blind procedure, double-blind study an experimental procedure in which neither the subjects of the experiment nor the persons administering the experiment know the critical aspects of the experiment cardiac massage, heart massage an emergency procedure that employs rhythmic compression of the heart (either through the chest wall or, during surgery, directly to the heart) in an attempt to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest operation, surgery, surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body artificial respiration an emergency procedure whereby breathing is maintained artificially cardiography, electrocardiography diagnostic procedure consisting of recording the activity of the heart electronically with a cardiograph (and producing a cardiogram) echocardiography a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study to structure and motions of the heart echoencephalography a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study the anatomy of the brain CPR, cardiac resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, kiss of life, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation an emergency procedure consisting of external cardiac massage and artificial respiration; the first treatment for a person who has collapsed and has no pulse and has stopped breathing; attempts to restore circulation of the blood and prevent death or brain damage due to lack of oxygen Heimlich maneuver, Heimlich manoeuvere an emergency procedure to help someone who is choking because food is lodged in the trachea transposition (mathematics) the transfer of a quantity from one side of an equation to the other along with a change of sign number crunching performing complex and lengthy numerical calculations mathematical operation, mathematical process, operation (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods recalculation the act of calculating again (usually to eliminate errors or to include additional data) auscultation listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope) X-ray photography, roentgenography radiography that uses X-rays to produce a roentgenogram electromyography diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders with the use of an electromyograph mammography a diagnostic procedure to detect breast tumors by the use of X rays thermography diagnostic technique using a thermograph to record the heat produced by different parts of the body; used to study blood flow and to detect tumors dental procedure a procedure employed by a dentist SOP, standard operating procedure, standard procedure, standing operating procedure a prescribed procedure to be followed routinely rat race an exhausting routine that leaves no time for relaxation groove, rut a settled and monotonous routine that is hard to escape metarule a rule that describes how other rules should be used (as in AI) algorithm, algorithmic program, algorithmic rule a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem heuristic, heuristic program, heuristic rule a commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem recursion (mathematics) an expression such that each term is generated by repeating a particular mathematical operation type of: activity any specific behavior
noun a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states “events now in process” “the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls” synonyms: physical process see moresee less types: show 243 types... hide 243 types... phenomenon any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning chelation (medicine) the process of removing a heavy metal from the bloodstream by means of a chelate as in treating lead or mercury poisoning dealignment a process whereby voters are moved toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties decrease, decrement a process of becoming smaller or shorter degeneration, devolution the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality development, evolution a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage) economic process any process affecting the production and development and management of material wealth encapsulation the process of enclosing (as in a capsule) execution, instruction execution (computer science) the process of carrying out an instruction by a computer human process a process in which human beings are involved growth, increase, increment a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important industrial process a systematic series of mechanical or chemical operations that produce or manufacture something irreversible process any process that is not reversible iteration, looping (computer science) executing the same set of instructions a given number of times or until a specified result is obtained iteration, loop (computer science) a single execution of a set of instructions that are to be repeated action, activity, natural action, natural process a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings) functioning, operation, performance process or manner of functioning or operating biological process, organic process a process occurring in living organisms photography the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces processing preparing or putting through a prescribed procedure reversible process any process in which a system can be made to pass through the same states in the reverse order when the process is reversed sensitisation, sensitization (psychology) the process of becoming highly sensitive to specific events or situations (especially emotional events or situations) defining, shaping any process serving to define the shape of something variation the process of varying or being varied empowerment the process of gaining confidence, strength, and the capacity for self-determination covariation (statistics) correlated variation radiation the spread of a group of organisms into new habitats natural phenomenon all phenomena that are not artificial levitation the phenomenon of a person or thing rising into the air by apparently supernatural means metempsychosis, rebirth after death the soul begins a new cycle of existence in another human body consequence, effect, event, issue, outcome, result, upshot a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon chance, fortune, hazard, luck an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another fortune, luck an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome pulsation a periodically recurring phenomenon that alternately increases and decreases some quantity absorption (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium accession a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group) accretion, accumulation an increase by natural growth or addition accretion (geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment accretion (biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles accretion (astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases Acheson process an industrial process for making graphite by heating a mixture of coke and clay acidification the process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid adaptation, adaption, adjustment the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions) adiabatic process (thermodynamics) any process that occurs without gain or loss of heat aeration the process of exposing to air (so as to purify) agglutination a clumping of bacteria or red cells when held together by antibodies (agglutinins) ageing, aging, senescence the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age anaglyphy the process of producing pictures in contrasting colors that appear three-dimensional when superimposed and viewed through spectacles with one red and one green lens anovulation the absence of ovulation due to immaturity or post-maturity or pregnancy or oral contraceptive pills or dysfunction of the ovary antiredeposition the process of preventing redeposition antisepsis, asepsis the process of inhibiting the growth and multiplication of microorganisms assibilation the development of a consonant phoneme into a sibilant absorption, assimilation the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion attack the onset of a corrosive or destructive process (as by a chemical agent) autotype, autotypy process for producing permanent prints in a carbon pigment autoregulation (physiology) processes that maintain a generally constant physiological state in a cell or organism bacteriostasis inhibition of the growth of bacteria batch processing the serial execution of computer programs Bessemer process an industrial process for making steel using a Bessemer converter to blast air through molten iron and thus burning the excess carbon and impurities; the first successful method of making steel in quantity at low cost bloom, blooming the organic process of bearing flowers blowing processing that involves blowing a gas activity, bodily function, bodily process, body process an organic process that takes place in the body capture any process in which an atomic or nuclear system acquires an additional particle capture a process whereby a star or planet holds an object in its gravitational field carbon cycle the organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again catabolism, destructive metabolism, dissimilation, katabolism breakdown in living organisms of more complex substances into simpler ones together with release of energy cell division, cellular division the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells centrifugation the process of separating substances of different densities by the use of a centrifuge chemical action, chemical change, chemical process (chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved chromatography a process used for separating mixtures by virtue of differences in absorbency concretion the formation of stonelike objects within a body organ (e.g., the kidneys) condensation the process of changing from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state convection (meteorology) the vertical movement of heat or other properties by massive motion within the atmosphere crossing over, crossover the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis clotting, coagulation, curdling the process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid cyanide process an industrial process for extracting gold and silver by treating ore with a sodium cyanide solution data processing (computer science) a series of operations on data by a computer in order to retrieve or transform or classify information decay, decline a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current decay the process of gradually becoming inferior decline, diminution change toward something smaller or lower deepening a process of becoming deeper and more profound deflation a contraction of economic activity resulting in a decline of prices defoliation the loss of foliage demagnetisation, demagnetization the process of removing magnetization demand the ability and desire to purchase goods and services deossification the loss of the mineral content of bone tissue desensitisation, desensitization the process of reducing sensitivity desorption changing from an adsorbed state on a surface to a gaseous or liquid state developing, development processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible diffusion (physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration digestion the organic process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed into the body digital photography a photographic method that stores the image digitally for later reproduction disinflation a reduction of prices intended to improve the balance of payments disintegration, dissolution separation into component parts distillation, distillment the process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors drift the gradual departure from an intended course due to external influences (as a ship or plane) dry plate, dry plate process a former photographic method that used a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive gelatinous emulsion eburnation a change that occurs in degenerative joint disease in which bone is converted into a dense smooth substance resembling ivory ecchymosis the escape of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the surrounding tissue to form a purple or black-and-blue spot on the skin economic growth steady growth in the productive capacity of the economy (and so a growth of national income) effacement shortening of the uterine cervix and thinning of its walls as it is dilated during labor effervescence the process of bubbling as gas escapes cataphoresis, dielectrolysis, electrophoresis, ionophoresis the motion of charged particles in a colloid under the influence of an electric field; particles with a positive charge go to the cathode and negative to the anode electrostatic precipitation a process that removes suspended dust particles from a gas by applying a high voltage electrostatic charge to the particles and collecting them on charged plates erythropoiesis the process of producing red blood cells by the stem cells in the bone marrow ecesis, establishment (ecology) the process by which a plant or animal becomes established in a new habitat eutrophication excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life evolution, organic evolution, phylogenesis, phylogeny (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms expression (genetics) the process of expressing a gene extinction the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation extraction the process of obtaining something from a mixture or compound by chemical or physical or mechanical means extravasation the process of exuding or passing out of a vessel into surrounding tissues; said of blood or lymph or urine feedback the process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output filtration the process whereby fluids pass through a filter or a filtering medium flocculation the process of flocculating; forming woolly cloudlike aggregations flow any uninterrupted stream or discharge formation natural process that causes something to form fossilisation, fossilization the process of fossilizing a plant or animal that existed in some earlier age; the process of being turned to stone fractional process, fractionation a process that uses heat to separate a substance into its components gastrulation the process in which a gastrula develops from a blastula by the inward migration of cells geologic process, geological process (geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified globalisation, globalism, globalization growth to a global or worldwide scale glycogenesis the formation in animals of glycogen from glucose development, growing, growth, maturation, ontogenesis, ontogeny (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level growth a progression from simpler to more complex forms Haber process, Haber-Bosch process an industrial process for producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen by combining them under high pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst curing, hardening, set, solidification, solidifying the process of becoming hard or solid by cooling or drying or crystallization haematogenesis, haematopoiesis, haemogenesis, haemopoiesis, hematogenesis, hematopoiesis, hemogenesis, hemopoiesis, sanguification the formation of blood cells in the living body (especially in the bone marrow) heredity the biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next humification the process of the formation of humus from plant remains epistasis, hypostasis the suppression of a gene by the effect of an unrelated gene implantation, nidation (embryology) the organic process whereby a fertilized egg becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus of placental mammals inactivation the process of rendering inactive inflation, rising prices a general and progressive increase in prices inhibition (physiology) the process whereby nerves can retard or prevent the functioning of an organ or part infolding, introversion, intussusception, invagination the folding in of an outer layer so as to form a pocket in the surface involution reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth) ion exchange a process in which ions are exchanged between a solution and an insoluble (usually resinous) solid; widely used in industrial processing ionisation, ionization the process of ionizing; the formation of ions by separating atoms or molecules or radicals or by adding or subtracting electrons from atoms by strong electric fields in a gas cytokinesis organic process consisting of the division of the cytoplasm of a cell following karyokinesis bringing about the separation into two daughter cells karyokinesis organic process consisting of the division of the nucleus of a cell during mitosis or meiosis keratinisation, keratinization organic process by which keratin is deposited in cells and the cells become horny (as in nails and hair) Krebs citric acid cycle, Krebs cycle, citric acid cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle in all plants and animals: a series of enzymatic reactions in mitochondria involving oxidative metabolism of acetyl compounds to produce high-energy phosphate compounds that are the source of cellular energy leach, leaching the process of leaching linguistic process a process involved in human language lymphopoiesis the formation of lymphocytes in the bone marrow and lymph nodes and thymus and spleen lysogenisation, lysogenization the process by which a bacterium acquires a phage that becomes integrated into its genome magnetic induction, magnetisation, magnetization the process that makes a substance magnetic (temporarily or permanently) market forces the interaction of supply and demand that shapes a market economy materialisation, materialization the process of coming into being; becoming reality maturation, maturement, ripening coming to full development; becoming mature metabolic process, metabolism the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life metabolism, metamorphosis the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals multiplication a multiplicative increase concurrent execution, multiprogramming the execution of two or more computer programs by a single computer narrowing a decrease in width nitrogen cycle the circulation of nitrogen; nitrates from the soil are absorbed by plants which are eaten by animals that die and decay returning the nitrogen back to the soil nitrogen fixation the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria nondevelopment failure of normal development to occur nuclear reaction (physics) a process that alters the energy or structure or composition of atomic nuclei nutrition (physiology) the organic process of nourishing or being nourished; the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance obsolescence the process of becoming outdated; falling into disuse opacification the process of becoming cloudy or opaque organification the process of organ formation oscillation the process of oscillating between states ossification the developmental process of bone formation ossification the process of becoming rigidly fixed in a conventional pattern of thought or behavior ovulation the expulsion of an ovum from the ovary (usually midway in the menstrual cycle) oxidative phosphorylation an enzymatic process in cell metabolism that synthesizes ATP from ADP oxygenation the process of providing or combining or treating with oxygen pair creation, pair formation, pair production the transformation of a gamma-ray photon into an electron and a positron when the photon passes close to an atomic nucleus birth, birthing, giving birth, parturition the process of giving birth pathologic process, pathological process an organic process occurring as a consequence of disease perennation the process of living through a number of years (as a perennial plant) phase change, phase transition, physical change, state change a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition photomechanics, photoplate making the process whereby printing surfaces (plates or cylinders) are produced by photographic methods population growth increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state powder method, powder photography, powder technique a process for identifying minerals or crystals; a small rod is coated with a powdered form of the substance and subjected to suitably modified X-rays; the pattern of diffracted rings is used for identification precession of the equinoxes a slow westward shift of the equinoxes along the plane of the ecliptic caused by precession of the Earth's axis of rotation preservation a process that saves organic substances from decay proliferation a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons) psychoanalytic process a process that is assumed to occur in psychoanalytic theory pullulation a rapid and abundant increase quellung, quellung reaction the swelling of the capsule surrounding a microorganism after reaction with an antibody; the basis of certain tests for identifying microorganisms quickening the process of showing signs of life radiography, skiagraphy the process of making a radiograph; producing an image on a radiosensitive surface by radiation other than visible light purification, refinement, refining the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.) regeneration (biology) growth anew of lost tissue or destroyed parts or organs regulation (embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered relaxation (physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers release a process that liberates or discharges something replication (genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division reproduction the process of generating offspring reabsorption, resorption the organic process in which the substance of some differentiated structure that has been produced by the body undergoes lysis and assimilation ageing, aging, ripening acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time saltation (geology) the leaping movement of sand or soil particles as they are transported in a fluid medium over an uneven surface scanning the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer scattering the physical process in which particles are deflected haphazardly as a result of collisions secernment, secretion the organic process of synthesizing and releasing some substance segregation (genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes sericulture raising silkworms in order to obtain raw silk shedding, sloughing the process whereby something is shed sink (technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system slippage a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping soak, soakage, soaking the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid) social process a process involved in the formation of groups of persons softening the process of becoming softer Solvay process an industrial process for producing sodium carbonate from sodium chloride and ammonia and carbon dioxide sorption the process in which one substance takes up or holds another (by either absorption or adsorption) source (technology) a process by which energy or a substance enters a system spiral a continuously accelerating change in the economy rigidification, rigidifying, stiffening the process of becoming stiff or rigid stimulation (physiology) the effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc.) ecological succession, succession (ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established summation (physiology) the process whereby multiple stimuli can produce a response (in a muscle or nerve or other part) that one stimulus alone does not produce supply offering goods and services for sale natural selection, selection, survival, survival of the fittest a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment symphysis a growing together of parts or structures synapsis the side by side pairing of homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes at the start of meiosis synergism, synergy the working together of two or more things (muscles or drugs for example) to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects synezesis, synizesis the contraction of chromatin towards one side of the nucleus during the prophase of meiosis temperature change a process whereby the degree of hotness of a body (or medium) changes transcription (genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA transduction the process whereby a transducer accepts energy in one form and gives back related energy in a different form transduction (genetics) the process of transfering genetic material from one cell to another by a plasmid or bacteriophage translation (genetics) the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm folding, protein folding the process whereby a protein molecule assumes its intricate three-dimensional shape translocation (genetics) an exchange of chromosome parts translocation the transport of dissolved material within a plant transpiration the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants transpiration the passage of gases through fine tubes because of differences in pressure or temperature tumefaction the process of tumefying; the organic process whereby tissue becomes swollen by the accumulation of fluid within it ulceration the process of ulcer formation; the process of becoming ulcerated flowering, unfolding a developmental process uptake a process of taking up or using up or consuming vascularisation, vascularization the organic process whereby body tissue becomes vascular and develops capillaries blistering, vesication, vesiculation the formation of vesicles in or beneath the skin video digitizing the process of capturing and converting and storing video images for use by a computer vitrification the process of becoming vitreous vulcanisation, vulcanization process of treating rubber or rubberlike materials with sulphur at great heat to improve elasticity and strength or to harden them wastage the process of wasting broadening, widening an increase in width macular degeneration eye disease caused by degeneration of the cells of the macula lutea and results in blurred vision; can cause blindness type of: physical entity an entity that has physical existence
noun (psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents “the process of thinking” synonyms: cognitive operation, cognitive process, mental process, operation see moresee less types: show 19 types... hide 19 types... basic cognitive process cognitive processes involved in obtaining and storing knowledge higher cognitive process cognitive processes that presuppose the availability of knowledge and put it to use attending, attention the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others inattention lack of attention intuition instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes) perception the process of perceiving apperception the process whereby perceived qualities of an object are related to past experience believing the cognitive process that leads to convictions categorisation, categorization, classification, sorting the basic cognitive process of arranging into classes or categories discrimination, secernment the cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished acquisition, learning the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge memory, remembering the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered representational process any basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else search the examination of alternative hypotheses cerebration, intellection, mentation, thinking, thought, thought process the process of using your mind to consider something carefully suggestion the sequential mental process in which one thought leads to another by association deciding, decision making the cognitive process of reaching a decision knowing a clear and certain mental apprehension language, linguistic process the cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication type of: cognition, knowledge, noesis the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
noun a mental process that you are not directly aware of “the process of denial” synonyms: unconscious process see moresee less types: show 15 types... hide 15 types... sleep talking, somniloquism, somniloquy uttering speech while asleep condensation (psychoanalysis) an unconscious process whereby two ideas or images combine into a single symbol; especially in dreams defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires compensation (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors conversion (psychiatry) a defense mechanism represses emotional conflicts which are then converted into physical symptoms that have no organic basis denial (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts displacement (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that transfers affect or reaction from the original object to some more acceptable one idealisation, idealization (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one bad intellectualisation, intellectualization (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that uses reasoning to block out emotional stress and conflict isolation (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which memory of an unacceptable act or impulse is separated from the emotion originally associated with it projection (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your own traits and emotions are attributed to someone else rationalisation, rationalization (psychiatry) a defense mechanism by which your true motivation is concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a way that is not threatening reaction formation (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which a person unconsciously develops attitudes and behavior that are the opposite of unacceptable repressed desires and impulses and serve to conceal them regression (psychiatry) a defense mechanism in which you flee from reality by assuming a more infantile state repression (psychiatry) the classical defense mechanism that protects you from impulses or ideas that would cause anxiety by preventing them from becoming conscious type of: cognition, knowledge, noesis the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
verb shape, form, or improve a material “process iron” synonyms: work, work on forge, form, mold, mould, shape, work make something, usually for a specific function see moresee less types: show 9 types... hide 9 types... hot-work roll, press, forge, or shape (metal) while hot cold work, coldwork shape (metal) without heat overwork use too much make over, retread, rework use again in altered form rack work on a rack tool work with a tool till work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation plough, plow, turn to break and turn over earth especially with a plow hoe dig with a hoe type of: transform, transmute, transubstantiate change or alter in form, appearance, or nature
verb subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition “process cheese” “process hair” synonyms: treat see moresee less types: show 38 types... hide 38 types... propagate cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering iodise, iodize treat with iodine nitrate treat with nitric acid, so as to change an organic compound into a nitrate tank treat in a tank aerate, oxygenate, oxygenise, oxygenize impregnate, combine, or supply with oxygen mercerise, mercerize treat to strengthen and improve the luster malt treat with malt or malt extract fluoridate, fluoridise, fluoridize subject to fluoridation; treat with fluoride creosote treat with creosote chlorinate treat or combine with chlorine carbonate treat with carbon dioxide camphorate treat with camphor bromate, brominate treat with bromine ammoniate treat with ammonia irradiate, ray expose to radiation scald treat with boiling water refine treat or prepare so as to put in a usable condition nitrify, nitrogenise, nitrogenize treat with nitrogen or a nitrogen compound reverberate treat, process, heat, melt, or refine in a reverberatory furnace curry treat tanned leather with oil or grease seed sprinkle with silver iodide particles to disperse and cause rain dose treat with an agent; add (an agent) to sulfur, sulphur treat with sulphur in order to preserve vulcanise, vulcanize treat with sulfur and heat to make stronger or more elastic chrome treat with a chromium compound bituminise, bituminize treat with bitumen Agenise, Agenize age or bleach flour with Agene (nitrogen trichloride) run cause to perform carboxylate treat (a chemical compound) with carboxyl or carboxylic acid beneficiate process (ores or other raw materials), as by reduction digest convert food into absorbable substances fume, fumigate treat with fumes, expose to fumes, especially with the aim of disinfecting or eradicating pests air-condition control the humidity and temperature of inoculate insert a bud for propagation bombard direct high energy particles or radiation against rerun cause to perform again stomach bear to eat predigest digest (food) beforehand type of: affect, bear on, bear upon, impact, touch, touch on have an effect upon
verb deal with in a routine way “process a loan” “process the applicants” see moresee less type of: care, deal, handle, manage be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
verb perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information “The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech” see moresee less type of: calculate, cipher, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out make a mathematical calculation or computation
noun a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant synonyms: summons see moresee less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... citation a summons that commands the appearance of a party at a proceeding monition, process of monition a summons issued after the filing of a libel or claim directing all parties concerned to show cause why the judgment asked for should not be granted ticket a summons issued to an offender (especially to someone who violates a traffic regulation) speeding ticket a ticket issued for driving above the speed limit parking ticket a ticket issued for parking in a restricted place type of: judicial writ, writ (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
verb deliver a warrant or summons to someone “He was processed by the sheriff” synonyms: serve, swear out see moresee less types: subpoena serve or summon with a subpoena rinse, wash clean with some chemical process elute wash out with a solvent, as in chromatography type of: deliver bring to a destination, make a delivery
verb institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against “He was warned that the district attorney would process him” synonyms: action, litigate, sue litigate engage in legal proceedings see moresee less types: expedite process fast and efficiently type of: challenge issue a challenge to
noun a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant “a bony process” synonyms: appendage, outgrowth see moresee less types: show 90 types... hide 90 types... horn one of the bony outgrowths on the heads of certain ungulates horn any hard protuberance from the head of an organism that is similar to or suggestive of a horn crest a showy growth of e.g. feathers or skin on the head of a bird or other animal pseudopod, pseudopodium temporary outgrowth used by some microorganisms as an organ of feeding or locomotion flagellum a lash-like appendage used for locomotion (e.g., in sperm cells and some bacteria and protozoa) hair a filamentous projection or process on an organism cirrus a slender flexible animal appendage as on barnacles or crinoids or many insects; often tactile spine a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin aculea small spiny outgrowth on the wings of certain insects style a slender bristlelike or tubular process villus a minute hairlike projection on mucous membrane tail the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body fetlock projection behind and above a horse's hoof tentacle any of various elongated tactile or prehensile flexible organs that occur on the head or near the mouth in many animals; used for feeling or grasping or locomotion arista bristlelike process near the tip of the antenna of certain flies acromial process, acromion the outermost point of the spine of the shoulder blade ala a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism alveolar arch the part of the upper or lower jawbones in which the teeth are set alveolar process, alveolar ridge, gum ridge a ridge that forms the borders of the upper and lower jaws and contains the sockets of the teeth acrosome a process at the anterior end of a sperm cell that produces enzymes to facilitate penetration of the egg caruncle, caruncula an outgrowth on a plant or animal such as a fowl's wattle or a protuberance near the hilum of certain seeds condyle a round bump on a bone where it forms a joint with another bone coronoid process, processus coronoideus a sharp triangular process projecting from a bone epicondyle a projection on a bone above a condyle serving for the attachment of muscles and ligaments fimbria thin projections forming a fringe (especially around the ovarian end of the Fallopian tube) apophysis (anatomy) a natural outgrowth or projection on an organ or body part such as the process of a vertebra spicule, spiculum small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals osteophyte small abnormal bony outgrowth papilla a small projection of tissue at the base of a hair or tooth or feather papilla a small nipple-shaped protuberance concerned with taste, touch, or smell appendix, cecal appendage, vermiform appendix, vermiform process a vestigial process that extends from the lower end of the cecum and that resembles a small pouch mastoid, mastoid bone, mastoid process, mastoidal process of the temporal bone behind the ear at the base of the skull styloid process extends from the base of the temporal bone pterygoid process two bony processes descending from the body of the sphenoid bone eminence, tubercle, tuberosity a protuberance on a bone especially for attachment of a muscle or ligament zygomatic process a slender process of the temporal bone that strengthens the zygomatic arch trochanter one of the bony prominences developed near the upper extremity of the femur to which muscles are attached transverse process one of two processes that extend from each vertebra and provide the point of articulation for the ribs odontoid process a toothlike process at the back of 2nd vertebra of the neck metaphysis the growing part of a long bone between the diaphysis and the epiphysis olecranon, olecranon process process of the ulna that forms the outer bump of the elbow and fits into the fossa of the humerus when the arm is extended ridge any long raised border or margin of a bone or tooth or membrane excrescence (pathology) an abnormal outgrowth or enlargement of some part of the body papilla (botany) a tiny outgrowth on the surface of a petal or leaf enation, plant process a natural projection or outgrowth from a plant body or organ antler deciduous horn of a member of the deer family tuft a bunch of feathers or hair topknot showy crest or knot of hair or feathers chorionic villus one of the tiny villi that stick out of the fetal chorion and combine with the mother's uterine tissue to form the placenta rattle loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail cockscomb, comb, coxcomb the fleshy red crest on the head of the domestic fowl and other gallinaceous birds ray any of the stiff bony spines in the fin of a fish quill a stiff hollow protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog stylet small needlelike appendage; especially the feeding organ of a tardigrade bristle a stiff hair sensory hair, vibrissa, whisker a long stiff hair growing from the snout or brow of most mammals as e.g. a cat seta a stiff hair or bristle pilus hairlike structure especially on the surface of a cell or microorganism brush a bushy tail or part of a bushy tail (especially of the fox) bob, bobtail, dock a short or shortened tail of certain animals caudal appendage tail especially of a mammal posterior to and above the anus uropygium posterior part of a bird's body from which the tail feathers grow oxtail the skinned tail of cattle; used especially for soups fluke either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean scut a short erect tail flag a conspicuously marked or shaped tail antenna, feeler one of a pair of mobile appendages on the head of e.g. insects and crustaceans; typically sensitive to touch and taste barbel, feeler slender tactile process on the jaws of a fish deltoid eminence, deltoid tuberosity a bump on the outside of the humerus where the deltoid muscle attaches lappet, wattle a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards condylar process, condyloid process, mandibular condyle the condyle of the ramus of the mandible that articulates with the skull coronoid process of the mandible the coronoid process that provides an attachment for the temporal muscle lateral condyle a condyle on the outer side of the lower extremity of the femur medial condyle a condyle on the inner side of the lower extremity of the femur lateral epicondyle epicondyle near the lateral condyle of the femur superciliary arch, superciliary ridge, supraorbital ridge, supraorbital torus a ridge on the frontal bone above the eye socket vegetation an abnormal growth or excrescence (especially a warty excrescence on the valves of the heart) podetium an organ or body resembling a stalk; especially the outgrowth of the thallus of certain lichens on which the ascocarp is borne peristome (botany) fringe of toothlike appendages surrounding the mouth of a moss capsule haustorium a root-like attachment in parasitic plants that penetrates and obtains food from the host apophysis (botany) a natural swelling or enlargement: at the base of the stalk or seta in certain mosses or on the cone scale of certain conifers callus (botany) an isolated thickening of tissue, especially a stiff protuberance on the lip of an orchid blister (botany) a swelling on a plant similar to that on the skin nodule, tubercle small rounded wartlike protuberance on a plant spur tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers aculeus a stiff sharp-pointed plant process acumen a tapering point fuzz, hair, tomentum filamentous hairlike growth on a plant leaf node, node (botany) the small swelling that is the part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge burl a large rounded outgrowth on the trunk or branch of a tree type of: body part any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity

Definitions of process

verb march in a procession “They processed into the dining room” synonyms: march see moresee less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... file proceed in line parade, promenade, troop march in a procession goose step march in a military fashion countermarch march back along the same way debouch, march out march out (as from a defile) into open ground type of: walk use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

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