'Defunct' ordinarily means dead, perhaps metaphorically, as in "Pan American World Airways is a defunct airline".
For UNIX/LINUX and other environments of that ilk a defunct or zombie process is only moribund, not dead, usually because of parental neglect; and dispatching it cleanly can be problematic. (Like many other UNIX definitions this one is slightly misconceived, off-key; but it is now established.) Our subject here is not defunct in either sense; but it is probably better that those who think it is not be disabused of their error. They will do less harm preoccupying themselves with RPG II. John Gilmore, Ashland, MA 01721 - USA
