define slave processes in oracle

the most common definition I've seen are all of the processes that are started when you start the database.

pmon, smon, dbwr, snmp, etc...

An alternate definition, but closely related, would be any process spawned by one of core processes.

For instance, on my 11g instance, here are some of the processes...

ora_pmon_sds11
ora_vktm_sds11
ora_diag_sds11
ora_dbrm_sds11
ora_psp0_sds11
ora_dia0_sds11
ora_mman_sds11
ora_dbw0_sds11
ora_lgwr_sds11
ora_ckpt_sds11
ora_smon_sds11
ora_reco_sds11
ora_mmon_sds11
ora_mmnl_sds11
ora_d000_sds11
ora_s000_sds11
ora_smco_sds11
ora_fbda_sds11
ora_qmnc_sds11
ora_q000_sds11
ora_q001_sds11
ora_cjq0_sds11
ora_j000_sds11

Akenathon, you're right, I should have reversed my "primary" and "alternate" definitions.  I have heard the background processes called "slaves" though,  it's not technically correct as the second definition I offered (and you did as well) but I thought it should be included because it's one I've encountered as well.

Good clarification though.  Thanks!

I posted that question because i wanted to explain the concept to some of my Juniors,although i Knew abt the slave processes,i was finding hard to find a apt definition