What is a Stored Procedure?

Definitions of stored procedure on the Web:

A facility that allows an application program to be run in two parts, one on a client and the other on a server.
...scv.bu.edu/SCV/Archive/IBM/BGL/compiler/xlc-8.0/html/glossary/czgs.htm

A program running in the database that can take complex actions based on the inputs you send it. Using a stored procedure is faster than doing the same work on a client, because the program runs right inside the database server. Stored procedures are nomally written in PL/SQL or Java.
orafaq.com/glossary/faqgloss.htm

A program that creates a named collection of SQL or other procedural statements and logic that is compiled, verified and stored in a server database.
glossary.icmembers.org/

A set of Structured Query Language (SQL) statements with an assigned name that's stored in the database in compiled form so that it can be shared by a number of programs.
www.netproject.com/docs/migoss/v1.0/glossary.html

A set of SQL statements (and with those RDBMSs that support them, flow-control statements) that are stored under a procedure name so that the statements can be executed as a group by the database server.
...docs.rinet.ru/NTServak/glossary.htm

A precompiled collection of one or more SQL statements and optional control-of-flow statements that can accept parameters and that are processed as a single unit.
www.olumidebola.com/database.htm

A stored procedure is a subroutine available to applications accessing a relational database system. Stored procedures (sometimes called a sproc or SP) are actually stored in the database. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stored procedure