A process or task which has terminated but was not removed from the list of processes, typically because it has child processes that have not yet terminated
(n ) A process that has terminated but remains in the process table because its parent process has not sent the proper exit code When a user reboots a system, zombie processes are removed from the process table They consume no system resources
You can describe someone as a zombie if their face or behaviour shows no feeling, understanding, or interest in what is going on around them. Without sleep you will become a zombie at work
{i} walking dead, dead returned to life, dead body controlled by supernatural power; space cadet, term used for apathetic or drugged person (Slang); mixed drink made of several kinds of rum or liqueur and fruit juice; snake god of voodoo religions (in West India, Brazil and West Africa); user that surfs the Internet for hours and never seems to sleep or get tired; dormant program that is placed through the "backdoor" on a computer
A completed process whose parent has not waited for it When a child exits, the return status must remain available to the parent, as it may later do a wait4() A zombie holds its place in the process table until the parent waits for it
Unix process which has terminated and given up all its resources but has not yet performed its final act of notifying its parent of its demise Zombies continue to occupy slots in the Unix process table