1A summons in writing to compel the appearance or response of a person before a court; the proceedings in a civil or a criminal case; the procedure by which a disobedient or recalcitrant defendant is made to plead. 2 Patent law, the method used to produce a thing or result. abuse of process. Improper use of process after it has been issued; the wrong is not in the obtaining of process, but in the manner in which it is used