profile
PROH-fyl
Profile (noun) means the outline or side view of something, especially a person's face. Example: “The sculptor carved a statue of her grandfather in profile.”
noun
1
The outline or side view of something, especially a person's face.
"The sculptor carved a statue of her grandfather in profile."
"The coin shows the king's profile."
"She recognized his profile from across the room."
2
A summary of information about a person, organization, or thing.
"Before the interview, I read a short profile of the company's founder."
"The agency keeps a detailed profile of every client it works with."
"The magazine ran a profile of the young entrepreneur."
3
A page or account on a website or app where a user's information is stored.
"You need to fill in your profile before you can message other members."
"Her profile is set to private, so only friends can see it."
"He updated his profile picture on the app."
verb
1
To write or compile a summary of someone or something.
"The newspaper profiled a local baker who had won several awards."
"Tonight's programme profiles three nurses working night shifts in the city."
"The documentary profiles five survivors of the disaster."
How to use profile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a side-on outline of something, or a written/digital summary of who or what someone is.
Common pairings
raise your profile
a low profile
user profile
in profile
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Word forms
- Plural
- profiles
- Third person singular
- profiles
- Past tense
- profiled
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The sculptor carved a statue of her grandfather in _____.
Etymology
From Italian profilo, from Latin pro- ("before") plus filum ("a thread, line") — literally "a line drawn beforehand."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for profile
See all rhymes for profile →Frequently asked questions
What does “profile” mean?
The word “profile” means the outline or side view of something, especially a person's face. In plain terms, either a side-on outline of something, or a written/digital summary of who or what someone is.
How do you pronounce “profile”?
“Profile” is pronounced PROH-fyl (/ˈpɹoʊfaɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “profile” in a sentence?
Here is “profile” used in a sentence: “The coin shows the king's profile.”
What part of speech is “profile”?
Depending on how it is used, “profile” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “profile” come from?
The word “profile” comes from Latin. From Italian profilo, from Latin pro- ("before") plus filum ("a thread, line") — literally "a line drawn beforehand.".
Is “profile” a common word?
“Profile” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “profile” have?
“Profile” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the outline or side view of something, especially a person's face.
What is the difference between a profile and a silhouette?
A profile is the outline or side view of something, especially a face seen from the side, and it can still show detail like features and expression. A silhouette is the solid dark shape of something against a lighter background, showing only the outline with no inner detail. A silhouette is essentially a profile filled in as shadow.
What does 'in profile' mean?
Seeing someone 'in profile' means viewing them from the side, so you see the outline of the face — forehead, nose, lips, and chin — rather than the front. Portraits, coins, and cameos often show heads in profile. It is the opposite of a full-face, or front-on, view.
What is a profile view?
A profile view is a side-on view of an object or face, showing its outline against the background. In drawing and design it is one of the standard viewpoints, alongside front and rear views. Architects, engineers, and artists use profile views to show shape and contour that a front view would hide.
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