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"
a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process"
(psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents; "the process of thinking"; "the cognitive operation of remembering"
a mental process that you are not directly aware of; "the process of denial"
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; "process cheese"; "process hair"; "treat the water so it can be drunk"; "treat the lawn with chemicals" ; "treat an oil spill"
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"
deal with in a routine way; "I'll handle that one"; "process a loan"; "process the applicants"
a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"
a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
a manifestation of insincerity; "he put on quite an act for her benefit"
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"
pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?"
play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
perform on a stage or theater; "She acts in this play"; "He acted in `Julius Caesar'"; "I played in `A Christmas Carol'"
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
be suitable for theatrical performance; "This scene acts well"
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity; "he bought a new stereo system"; "the system consists of a motor and a small computer"
the living body considered as made up of interdependent components forming a unified whole; "exercise helped him get the alcohol out of his system"
a group of physiologically or anatomically related organs or parts; "the body has a system of organs for digestion"
a complex of methods or rules governing behavior; "they have to operate under a system they oppose"; "that language has a complex system for indicating gender"
a procedure or process for obtaining an objective; "they had to devise a system that did not depend on cooperation"
a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; "a vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going"
(physical chemistry) a sample of matter in which substances in different phases are in equilibrium; "in a static system oil cannot be replaced by water on a surface"; "a system generating hydrogen peroxide"
a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
translating an idea into action; "a hard theory to put into practice"; "differences between theory and praxis of communism"
the exercise of a profession; "the practice of the law"; "I took over his practice when he retired"
knowledge of how something is usually done; "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner"
avail oneself to; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance"
carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions; "practice law"
a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance"
medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people"
the region above the ground; "her hand stopped in mid air"; "he threw the ball into the air"
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of; "air pollution"; "a smell of chemicals in the air"; "open a window and let in some air"; "I need some fresh air"
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
expose to warm or heated air, so as to dry; "Air linen"
broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song"
be broadcast; "This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M."
(linguistics) a pitch or change in pitch of the voice that serves to distinguish words in tonal languages; "the Beijing dialect uses four tones"
the quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author; "the general tone of articles appearing in the newspapers is that the government should withdraw"; "from the tone of her behavior I gathered that I had outstayed my welcome"
a steady sound without overtones; "they tested his hearing with pure tones of different frequencies"
a musical interval of two semitones
the quality of a person's voice; "he began in a conversational tone"; "he spoke in a nervous tone of voice"
give a healthy elasticity to; "Let's tone our muscles"
change to a color image; "tone a photographic image"
change the color or tone of; "tone a negative"
vary the pitch of one's speech
utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically; "The students chanted the same slogan over and over again"
something done (usually as opposed to something said); "there were stories of murders and other unnatural actions"
the most important or interesting work or activity in a specific area or field; "the action is no longer in technology stocks but in municipal bonds"; "gawkers always try to get as close to the action as possible"
an act by a government body or supranational organization; "recent federal action undermined the segregationist position"; "the United Nations must have the power to propose and organize action without being hobbled by irrelevant issues"; "the Union action of emancipating Southern slaves"
the operating part that transmits power to a mechanism; "the piano had a very stiff action"
the trait of being active and energetic and forceful; "a man of action"
the series of events that form a plot; "his novels always have a lot of action"
the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against; "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination"
a course of conduct; "the path of virtue"; "we went our separate ways"; "our paths in life led us apart"; "genius usually follows a revolutionary path"
any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another; "he said he was looking for the way out"
the property of distance in general; "it's a long way to Moscow"; "he went a long ways"
doing as one pleases or chooses; "if I had my way"
a general category of things; used in the expression `in the way of'; "they didn't have much in the way of clothing"
a portion of something divided into shares; "the split the loot three ways"
the condition of things generally; "that's the way it is"; "I felt the same way"
to a great degree or by a great distance; very much (`right smart' is regional in the United States); "way over budget"; "way off base"; "the other side of the hill is right smart steeper than the side we are on"