(Or "defunct prOcess") A UnixprOcess that has terminated (either because it has been killed by a signal or because it has called exit()) and whose {parent prOcess} has not yet received notification of its termination by executing (some form of) the wait() system call. A zombie prOcess exists solely as a prOcess table entry and consumes no other resources. This entry is retained to hold the child' s exit status until the parent prOcess wants to retrieve it. The parent can also be notified asynchronously via a signal of the child' s termination. Zombie prOcesses can be seen in "ps" listings Occasionally (with a status "Z" in some versions). Compare orphan prOcess. (1997-10-08)
