What does "protocol" mean?

1. (code of conduct) the official rules for how people should behave at formal events or in government. 2. (scientific/medical procedure) a detailed plan or set of steps for a scientific experiment or medical treatment. 3. (computing rules) a set of rules that computers use to talk to each other and send information. 4. (official agreement) a formal document that records an agreement between countries.

protocol

US //ˈpɹoʊtəˌkɑɫ// UK //pɹˈəʊtəkˌɒl// pro·to·col

1 code of conduct (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

the official rules for how people should behave at formal events or in government.

the system of rules and conventions governing correct etiquette and precedence between diplomatic representatives and heads of state.

Example

According to royal protocol, you must wait for the Queen to speak first.

Example

The visiting dignitaries were careful to observe every nuance of diplomatic protocol to avoid any perceived slight during the summit.
2 scientific/medical procedure (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Academic Medicine

a detailed plan or set of steps for a scientific experiment or medical treatment.

a formalised set of procedures to be followed in a clinical trial, medical treatment, or scientific experiment.

Example

The hospital has a strict protocol for cleaning surgical tools.

Example

The research team strictly adhered to the experimental protocol to ensure that the results could be accurately replicated by other laboratories.

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3 computing rules (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a set of rules that computers use to talk to each other and send information.

a standardised set of rules governing the format and transmission of data between devices in a network.

Example

HTTP is the protocol used for transferring data on the web.

Example

The software update failed because the legacy hardware was incompatible with the new security protocol implemented by the server.
- standard
- interface
4 official agreement (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

a formal document that records an agreement between countries.

an official record of a diplomatic negotiation or an amendment to an international treaty.

Example

The two nations signed a new protocol to protect the environment.

Example

The Kyoto Protocol established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French protocolle, protocole (“document, record”), from Late Latin protocollum (“the first sheet of a volume (on which contents and errata were written)”), from Byzantine Greek πρωτόκολλον (prōtókollon, “first sheet glued onto a manuscript”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + κόλλα (kólla, “glue”). Doublet of collage, collagen, and colloid.