A professor is a senior university teacher. A processor is the chip that runs a computer, or a machine that processes something — a food processor. Professor of history; a faster processor. One professes, the other processes.
The core difference
- professor — the highest academic rank, or more loosely any university teacher. Professor of Physics, an emeritus professor, the professor's lecture.
- processor — the central chip of a computer; any machine or person that processes something. A quad-core processor, a food processor, a word processor, a claims processor.
The tell
Professor comes from profess — to declare publicly; a professor professes a subject. Processor comes from process — to work through; a processor processes data or food. The f and the c carry it: the f of profess, the c of process.
In use
- professor — She was made a professor at thirty-four. The professor set three essays a term.
- processor — The laptop has a new, faster processor. Chop the onions in the food processor.
Common slips
- the computer's professor → the computer's processor
- my physics processor → my physics professor
Professors profess; processors process.
Where the words come from
Professor is from Latin profiteri, "to declare publicly, to profess" — pro- "forth" + fateri "to acknowledge". A professor was one who publicly professed knowledge of a subject. Processor is from process, from Latin procedere, "to go forward" — the computing sense dates from the 1950s.
Frequently asked questions
Is every university lecturer a professor?
In Britain, no — professor is the top rank. In America the title covers several ranks, from assistant professor upwards.
What does a processor do in a computer?
It carries out the instructions of programs — the central processing unit, or CPU.
What does emeritus professor mean?
A retired professor who keeps the title as an honour.