profile

[ proh-fahyl ]

/ ˈproʊ faɪl /

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See synonyms for: profile / profiled / profiles / profiling on Thesaurus.com

noun

the outline or contour of the human face, especially the face viewed from one side.

a picture or representation of the side view of a head.

an outlined view, as of a city or mountain.

an outline of an object, as a molding, formed on a vertical plane passed through the object at right angles to one of its principal horizontal dimensions.

a drawing or the like representing this.

Surveying. a vertical section of the ground surface taken parallel to a survey line.Compare cross section (def. 6).

a verbal, arithmetical, or graphic summary or analysis of the history, status, etc., of a process, activity, relationship, or set of characteristics: a biochemical profile of a patient's blood; a profile of national consumer spending.

an informal biography or a concisely presented sketch of the life and character of a person.

Digital Technology. the personal details, images, user statistics, social media timeline, etc., that an individual creates and associates with a username or online account.

a set of characteristics or qualities that identify a type or category of person or thing: a profile of a typical allergy sufferer.

the look, configuration, or lines of something: cars with a modern profile.

degree of noticeability; visibility.

Psychology. a description of behavioral and personality traits of a person compared with accepted norms or standards.

Theater. a flat stage property or scenic piece cut from a firm, thin material, as of beaverboard or plywood, and having an irregular edge resembling the silhouette of a natural object.

(in a gear) the outline of either end of a tooth.

Naval Architecture. a longitudinal elevation or section of a vessel.Compare outboard profile.

verb (used with object), pro·filed, pro·fil·ing.

to draw a profile of.

to produce or present a history, description, or analysis of: The magazine will profile the candidate in its next issue.

OTHER WORDS FOR profile

1 silhouette.

See synonyms for profile on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of profile

1650–60; (noun) <Italian prof(f)ilo, noun derivative of profilare “to delineate, outline,” equivalent to pro- pro-¹ + -filare, derivative of filo “line, thread” <Latin fīlum

OTHER WORDS FROM profile

pro·fil·er, nounhalf-profile, noun

Words nearby profile

proffer, proffered, proficiency, proficiency badge, proficient, profile, profile component, profile drag, profiler, profiling, Profilometer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use profile in a sentence

He says he worries about the data of citizens who benefit from public services like welfare being used to build political profiles that can be targeted by the government.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state|Anthony Green|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
For example, Drew Ryn, a 23-year-old singer from Nashville who was once on Fox show The X Factor, said she uses TikTok to help boost her profile as a musician.
What’s Oracle? TikTok users react to proposed Oracle deal|Danielle Abril|September 15, 2020|Fortune
His profile has risen lately after he announced the iPhone 11’s processor and was one of the showmen of Apple’s Mac processor transition.
Apple’s leadership evolves ahead of a post-Tim Cook era|radmarya|September 12, 2020|Fortune
Create your custom profile, and the platform searches for and connects you with like-minded people.
Last call for early-stage founders to exhibit at Disrupt 2020|Marquise Foster|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch

Of those kits already tested, about 36 percent found a DNA profile for someone other than the victim, the DA’s office said.
Morning Report: Downtown Jail Outbreak Goes From Bad to Worse|Voice of San Diego|September 11, 2020|Voice of San Diego
You get these high-profile people that go into prison, and the staff abuse their authority.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’|Michael Howard|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When they get someone high profile, like the governor [Bob McDonnell] or like Teresa, they will abuse their positions.
How a ‘Real Housewife’ Survives Prison: ‘I Don’t See [Teresa Giudice] Having a Cakewalk Here’|Michael Howard|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But while his public profile receded, his private life blossomed.
Ed Brooke: The Senate's Civil Rights Pioneer and Prophet of a Post-Racial America|John Avlon|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The exposure and buzz from Short Term have raised her profile considerably.
Brie Larson’s Hollywood Transformation|Marlow Stern|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The FBI and the President may claim that the Hermit Kingdom is to blame for the most high-profile network breach in forever.
No, North Korea Didn’t Hack Sony|Marc Rogers|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She opened a large black fan and moved it slowly while looking intently at her son's bent profile.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
She was barely five feet five, but she ranked with tall women, her height as unchallenged as the chiselling of her profile.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
He indicated a fair beautiful creature with a determined profile and deep womanly figure.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
New and highly curious characteristics begin to appear when he attempts to give the profile aspect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
With children of finer perception the transition to a correct profile view may be carried much further.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for profile

profile

/ (ˈprəʊfaɪl) /

noun

a side view, outline, or representation of an object, esp of a human face or head

a view or representation of an object, esp a building, in contour or outline

a short biographical sketch of a subject

a graph, table, or list of scores representing the extent to which a person, field, or object exhibits various tested characteristics or tendenciesa population profile

a vertical section of soil from the ground surface to the parent rock showing the different horizons

a vertical section of part of the earth's crust showing the layers of rock
a representation of such a section

the outline of the shape of a river valley either from source to mouth (long profile) or at right angles to the flow of the river (cross profile)

verb (tr)

to draw, write, or make a profile of

to cut out a shape from a blank (as of steel) with a cutter

Derived forms of profile

profilist (ˈprəʊfɪlɪst), noun

Word Origin for profile

C17: from Italian profilo, from profilare to sketch lightly, from pro- 1 + Latin fīlum thread

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with profile

profile

see keep a low profile.

profile

OTHER WORDS FOR profile

Origin of profile

OTHER WORDS FROM profile

Words nearby profile

Words related to profile

How to use profile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for profile

Derived forms of profile

Word Origin for profile

Other Idioms and Phrases with profile