procedé

Procédé is a French masculine noun meaning method, technique, or process used to achieve a result. It designates a particular way of doing something, typically within a defined sequence of steps or a specific technological or practical approach. The term is widely used in science, industry, arts, and everyday language to refer to a distinct technique or manufacturing step.

Etymology and form: The word derives from the verb procéder, which in turn comes from Latin procedere “to go forward.” In French, proc é dé is spelled with acute accents (procédé) and has the plural procédés. In many English texts the diacritics are often omitted, written as procede or procedure, though the precise French form is procédé.

Usage: In science and industry, proc é dé appears in phrases such as “procédé chimique,” “procédé industriel,” “procédé de fabrication,” and “procédé photographique.” In the arts, it can refer to a technique or device, for example “procédé d’impression” or “procédé cinématographique.” The plural procédés is used when listing several methods or techniques.

Notes: While closely related to “méthode” and “technique,” procédé typically implies a concrete, operational method, sometimes with standardized steps or a patented or specialized process. The term is common in technical documentation, patents, and professional discourse, signaling a defined way of producing an effect or result.