Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Pro·to·col

   /ˈprōdəˌkôl/

   

   noun

   • 1. the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions: "protocol forbids the prince from making any public statement in his defense"
   • ▪ the accepted or established code of procedure or behavior in any group, organization, or situation: "what is the protocol at a conference if one's neighbor dozes off during the speeches?" Similar etiquetteconventionsformalitiescustomsrules of conductprocedureritualcode of behavioraccepted behaviorconventionalitiesproprietyproprietiesone's Ps and Qsdecorummannerscourtesiescivilitiesgood formthe done thingthe thing to dopunctiliopolitesse
   • 2. the original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties: "signatories to the Montreal Protocol" Similar agreementtreatyententeconcordconcordatconventiondealpactcontractcompactsettlementarrangementarmisticetrucerare:engagement
   • ▪ an amendment or addition to a treaty or convention: "a protocol to the treaty allowed for this Danish referendum"
   • 3. a formal or official record of scientific experimental observations: "protocols of published cases frequently lack this vital information"
   • ▪ a procedure for carrying out a scientific experiment or a course of medical treatment: "a study protocol approved by the ethics committee of the hospital"
   • 4. a set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.

   Word Origin late Middle English (denoting the original minute of an agreement, forming the legal authority for future dealings relating to it): from Old French prothocole, via medieval Latin from Greek prōtokollon ‘first page, flyleaf’, from prōtos ‘first’ + kolla ‘glue’. Sense 1 derives from French protocole, the collection of set forms of etiquette to be observed by the French head of state, and the name of the government department responsible for this (in the 19th century).

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • T

     1

   • O

     1

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less