Proc objects are blocks of code that have been bound to a set of local variables. Once bound, the code may be called in different contexts and still access those variables.
def gen_times(factor) return Proc.new {|n| n*factor } end times3 = gen_times(3) times5 = gen_times(5) times3.call(12) #=> 36 times5.call(5) #=> 25 times3.call(times5.call(4)) #=> 60