Can I patent a process?

One of the things you can patent is a process. A process is some method for making or doing something. For example, if you invent a way to apply some chemical to wood which ends up making the wood stronger, that process could be patented, assuming it meets the other patent requirements. It is also possible to get a patent for a new use of a known process. For example, if you figure out a way to use dishwashing fluid as a skin conditioner, you could obtain a patent on that process (although not on the underlying dishwasher fluid/conditioner, since that was already a public thing).