profile
pronunciation
How to pronounce profile in British English:
UK [ˈprəʊfaɪl]
How to pronounce profile in American English:
US [ˈproʊfaɪl]
-
- Noun:
- an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
- a side view representation of an object (especially a human face)
- biographical sketch
- degree of exposure to public notice
- a vertical section of the Earth's crust showing the different horizons or layers
-
- Verb:
- write about
- represent in profile, by drawing or painting
Word Origin
- profile
- profile: [17] The -file of profile is etymologically a ‘thread’. The word comes from early modern Italian profilo, a derivative of profilare ‘draw in outline’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix pro- ‘forward’ and filare, which used to mean ‘draw a line’; and this in turn went back to Latin filāre ‘spin’, a derivative of filum ‘thread’ (from which English gets file for storing things in).=> file
- profile (n.)
- 1650s, "a drawing of the outline of anything," from older Italian profilo "a drawing in outline," from profilare "to draw in outline," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + filare "draw out, spin," from Late Latin filare "to spin, draw out a line," from filum "thread" (see file (v.1)). Meaning "a side view" is from 1660s. Meaning "biographical sketch, character study" is from 1734.
- profile (v.)
- 1715, "to represent in profile," from profile (n.) or Italian profilare. Meaning "to summarize a person in writing" is from 1948. Related: Profiled; profiling.
Example
- 1. Luckily , whitman 's profile is a big help in this department , according to robinson . "
- 2. Recently , li has begun cultivating an international profile .
- 3. The slight profile of her face adds the final grace note .
- 4. Quality photos of someone 's face and profile is all you need to create a clever mask for halloween .
- 5. With the ipad 2 's lighter weight and more nimble profile , it 's much easier to execute sharp turns .