proboscis
1102
money, especially work done by a lawyer or group of
lawyers: Some law firms have a policy of taking on pro bono
cases when possible.
pro·bos·cis /prəˈbɒsɪs||ˈbɑː-/ n pl. -cises /sɪsɪz/ or -cides
/sɪdiːz/ tech 1 the long movable nose of certain animals,
especially the elephant 2 a long tube-like part of the mouth
of some insects and worms
pro·ce·du·ral /prəˈsiːdʒərəl/ adj of procedure, especially in
a court of law: procedural difficulties
pro·ce·dure /prəˈsiːdʒə/ n 1 [U] the method and order of
directing business in an official meeting, a law case etc: So
much time was spent on agreeing procedure at our first meet-
ing that we didn't start any actual business until our sec-
ond. 2 [C(of)] a set of actions necessary for doing something:
Writing a cheque is quite a simple procedure. | What's the
correct procedure for renewing your car tax? → compare
PROCESS
pro·ceed /prəˈsiːd/ v [I] rather fml 1 [(to, with)] to begin or
continue in a course of action or set of actions: The work is
proceeding according to plan. | We can now proceed to the
main business of the meeting. | He paused to consult his notes,
and then proceeded with his questions. | [+to-v] The director
said he liked my scheme very much, and then proceeded to tear
it to bits! (=destroy it completely) 2 [+adv/prep] to advance;
move in a particular direction: According to the policeman's
report, the stolen car was proceeding in a northerly direction. |
Passengers for the New York flight should now proceed to Gate
25. → compare PRECEDE
proceed against sbdy. phr v [T pass. rare] fml to take an
action in law against
proceed from sthg. phr v [T no pass.] fml to happen or exist
as a result of: diseases that proceed from poverty
pro·ceed·ing /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/ n [often pl.] 1 an act of business:
the necessary proceedings for the merger of the two
banks 2 fml an event or course of action, especially one that
is unusual or undesirable: He watched the proceedings with
interest.
pro·ceed·ings /prəˈsiːdɪŋz/ n [P] 1 an action taken in law
(especially in the phrases start/take (legal) proceed-
ings) 2 (often cap.) the records of business, activities etc, at
the meetings of an association or club: the Proceedings of the
London Historical Society
pro·ceeds /ˈprəʊsiːdz/ n [P] money gained from the sale of
something, or as the result of some activity for getting
money: The proceeds of the sale amounted to £500.
pro·cess¹ /ˈprəʊses||ˈprɑː-/ n 1 a connected set of natural
actions or events that produce continuation or gradual
change, and over which humans have little control: Coal
was formed out of dead forests by a long slow process of
chemical change. | the process of breathing | the ageing
process (=by which people grow old) 2 a connected set of
human actions or operations that are performed intention-
ally in order to reach a particular result or as part of an
official system or established method of doing something:
the process of learning to read | the electoral/democratic
process | The company is still in the process (=performing
the operation) of moving to a new factory. | They are trying to
extend the range of goods they sell and, in the process, to
appeal to a new type of customer. | The police established the
identity of the dead man by a process of elimination. 3 a
particular system or treatment of materials used especially in
producing goods: an advanced industrial process 4 tech part
of a plant or animal that grows standing out and is easily
seen 5 tech a legal action in all its stages → compare
PROCEDURE
process² v [T] 1 to treat and preserve (a substance, especially
a food) by a particular PROCESS: processed cheese 2 to print
a picture from (a photographic film) 3 to put (information,
numbers etc) into a computer for examination 4 to exam-
ine or deal with, especially by means of an established
system or process: Your application for a mortgage is now
being processed.
pro·cess³ /prəˈses/ v [I+adv/prep] to walk (as if) in a proces-
sion
,processed 'food n [C;U] usually derog food which has been
prepared for sale and specially treated so that it can be
stored, and so that it is attractive to the buyer, e.g. by adding
extra colour to it. Processed foods are generally considered
to be less healthy than fresh foods.
pro·ces·sion /prəˈseʃən/ n 1 [C(of)] a line of people, vehi-
cles etc, moving forward in an orderly way, e.g. as part of a
religious ceremony or public entertainment: a carnival
procession | (fig.) interrupted by a procession of unwelcome
visitors 2 [C;U] a continuous onward movement of people
or things: The workers marched in procession. | to hold a
procession
pro·ces·sion·al /prəˈseʃənəl/ adj [A] connected with or
used in a solemn religious procession: a processional march/
banner
pro·ces·sor /ˈprəsesə||ˈprɑː-/ n the central part of a
computer that performs the operations needed to process
the information that is given: the powerful new generation of
Pentium II processors → see also FOOD PROCESSOR, WORD
PROCESSOR
,pro-'choice adj euph favouring ABORTION being available to
those who want it. In the US, people who are pro-choice
often LOBBY Congress and walk in DEMONSTRATIONS. →
compare PRO-LIFE; see also Cultural Note at ABORTION
pro·claim /prəˈkleɪm||proʊ-/ v [T] 1 fml to make (especially
news of national importance) known publicly, especially
using speech rather than writing; declare officially: The
ringing bells proclaimed the birth of the prince. | A national
holiday was proclaimed. | He proclaimed his intention of
attending, despite their opposition. | [+obj+n] The boy was
proclaimed king. 2 lit to show clearly; be an outward sign of:
[+obj/(that)] His accent proclaimed his American origins/
proclaimed that he was American.
proc·la·ma·tion /ˌprkləˈmeɪʃən||ˌprɑː-/ n 1 [C] an official
public statement: a royal proclamation 2 [U] the act of
proclaiming
pro·cliv·i·ty /prəˈklɪvɪti||proʊ-/ n [(to, towards)] fml a strong
natural liking or tendency, especially towards something
bad
pro·con·sul /prəʊˈkɒnsəl||-ˈkɑːn-/ n a governor of a part of
the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE → -ar /prəʊˈkɒnsjʊlər||
-ˈkɑːnsələr/ adj [A]
pro·con·su·late /prəʊˈkɒnsjʊlət||-ˈkɑnsəl-/ also
pro·con·sul·ship /prəʊˈkɒnsəlʃɪp||-ˈkɑːn-/ n the rank or
period of office of a proconsul
pro·cras·ti·nate /prəˈkræstɪneɪt/ v [I] fml to delay repeat-
edly and without good reason in doing something that must
be done: Stop procrastinating – just sit down and do it.
—nation /prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃən/ n [U]
pro·cre·ate /ˈprəkrieɪt/ v [I;T] especially fml or tech to produce
or give life to (young) —ation /ˌprəkriˈeɪʃən/ n [U]
Proct·er & Gam·ble /ˌprɒktər ənd ˈgæmbəl||ˌprɑːk-/ trade-
mark a large US company whose cleaning and washing prod-
ucts are sold all over the world. Its products include washing
powder, soap, SHAMPOO, and babies' nappies (NAPPY).
proc·tor¹ /ˈprɒktə||ˈprɑːk-/ n 1 (especially at Oxford and
Cambridge) a university officer whose duties include mak-
ing students keep university rules 2 AmE a person appointed
to make sure students do not cheat in an examination
proctor² v [T] AmE for INVIGILATE
pro·cu·ra·tor fis·cal /ˌprɒkjʊˈreɪtə ˈfɪskəl||
ˌprɑːkjʊˈreɪtər-/ also fiscal infml — n an official in Scotland
who is in charge of deciding whether there is enough evi-
dence against a person for them to be sent to court for a TRIAL
→ see Feature on page A23
pro·cure /prəˈkjʊə||proʊ-/ v [(for)] 1 [T] fml to obtain, espe-
cially by effort or careful attention: I managed to procure two
tickets for the final. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Somehow he had procured
us an invitation. 2 [I;T] derog, especially lit to provide (a woman)
for someone else's sexual satisfaction → -ment n [U]
pro·cur·er /prəˈkjʊərə||proʊ-/, pro·cur·ess /-rəs/ fem. —
n a person who procures
prod¹ /prɒd||prɑːd/ v -dd- 1 [I(∂t);T] to push or press (some-
thing or someone) with a pointed object; POKE: He prodded
(at) the snake with his toe to make sure it was dead. | She
prodded him in the ribs. 2 [T(into)] to urge sharply into action
or thought: The announcement prodded us into action. | He's
not lazy, exactly, but he needs prodding.