---
title: process — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «process» in the school dictionary: A process is a series of steps or changes that happen one after another to reach a result. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# process

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** process, changes, something, process feelings, Evaporation, Learning · **What happens:** be, happen, reach, mean, deal, change · **To what, where:** series, one, result, it, food, feelings · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«process» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [process in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/process.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A process is a series of steps or changes that happen one after another to reach a result.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:m1:1
# text = A process is a series of steps or changes that happen one after another to reach a result.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	series	series	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	changes	change	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	happen	happen	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	obj	_	_
13	after	after	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	nmod	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	reach	reach	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a process | a series |  |  |  | of steps or changes | tree rules |
| 2 | **happen** | present | changes | one |  |  | after another |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **reach** | to-infinitive | changes *not said here* | a result |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent result=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To process something means to deal with it or change it in steps, like processing food or information.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:m2:1
# text = To process something means to deal with it or change it in steps, like processing food or information.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	nsubj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	deal	deal	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	steps	step	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
16	processing	process	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
17	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **deal** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with it | vn cope-83 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent with it=Theme |
| 3 | **change** | infinitive | something *not said here* | it |  |  |  | in steps | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **process** | gerund | something *not said here* | food or information |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To process feelings or news means to understand them slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:m3:1
# text = To process feelings or news means to understand them slowly.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | process feelings or news |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **understand** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | process feelings or news *not said here* | feelings *= feeling* |  |  |  | slowly *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer they=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In the process of» means while doing something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:m4:1
# text = «In the process of» means while doing something.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	ccomp	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the process |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Evaporation is part of the water cycle process.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x1:1
# text = Evaporation is part of the water cycle process.
1	Evaporation	evaporation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	cycle	cycle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Evaporation | part |  |  |  | of the cycle process | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Learning to read is a long process.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x2:1
# text = Learning to read is a long process.
1	Learning	learn	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **read** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Learning | a long process |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are in the process of moving house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x3:1
# text = We are in the process of moving house.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | We |  |  | the process |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **move** | gerund | the process *not said here* | house |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent house=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The computer is processing your request.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x4:1
# text = The computer is processing your request.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	processing	process	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	request	request	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **process** | present · progressive | the computer | your request |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **request** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom request «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Processed food often has lots of salt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x5:1
# text = Processed food often has lots of salt.
1	Processed	process	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	amod	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	lots	lot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	salt	salt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **process** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | Processed food | lots of salt |  |  |  | often *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lot=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Digestion is the process of breaking down food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x6:1
# text = Digestion is the process of breaking down food.
1	Digestion	digestion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the Digestion process |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **break down** | gerund | the Digestion process *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent food=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the process of elimination to find the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x7:1
# text = Use the process of elimination to find the answer.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	elimination	elimination	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the process of elimination |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent process=Patient |
| 2 | **find** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Topic |
| 3 | **process** |  |  | elimination |  |  |  |  | nom process «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It took her a while to process the sad news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x8:1
# text = It took her a while to process the sad news.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	while	while	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | It | her *= she* |  |  | while |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument she=Theme news=Destination |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The result is the same as before, and the process is repeated every night for a whole month.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:process:x9:1
# text = The result is the same as before, and the process is repeated every night for a whole month.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	result	result	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	before	before	ADV	RB	_	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	parataxis	_	_
14	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	15	det	_	_
15	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl:unmarked	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	month	month	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the result |  |  |  |  | same *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **repeat** | present · passive |  | the process |  |  | month; night |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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