profile
Pluralprofiles
Verbprofiles, profiling, profiled
Pluralprofiles
Formsprofiles, profiling, profiled
- 1The page or record about you in an app or website, with your details, picture, or saved settings.
Like a page in a yearbook that tells people who you are.
She updated her profile with a new photo and a short bio.
You have to make a profile before you can post in the forum.
UsageSay on your profile: the photo on my profile.
Similaraccount
Note
- 2How well known or talked about a person or thing is.
Like how loud a sound is: the louder it is, the more people notice.
The charity wanted a higher profile in the community.
He kept a low profile for months after the scandal.
UsageSay keep a low profile or raise someone's profile.
Similarprominence, visibility, reputation, standing, presence
Note
- 3A short account that brings together facts about a person or thing.
Like a short story that gathers the main facts about someone in one place.
The magazine ran a profile of the new mayor.
Detectives built a profile of the suspect from witness reports.
UsageSay a profile of a person.
Similarportrait, sketch, biography, description, study
- 4The full set of features or qualities that together describe something.
Like a fingerprint built from many features that together describe one thing.
This wine has a rich, fruity flavor profile.
Scientists studied the temperature profile of the deep lake.
UsageOften follows a word that tells you what kind: flavor profile, chemical profile.
Similarsignature, makeup, composition, character
Note
- 5The shape of something's edge seen from the side, especially a person's face seen from the side.
Like the outline you would trace around a shadow on the wall.
The coin shows the queen's face in profile.
From the side, his profile looks just like his father's.
UsageIn profile means seen from the side.
Similaroutline, silhouette, contour, shape
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- 6
- 7How far something sticks out from a surface.
Like how far a bump rises above a flat road.
The new roof rack has a low profile to save fuel.
The new mailbox has a small profile, so it barely sticks out from the wall.
Similarprojection, protrusion
- 8To treat someone a certain way because of a stereotype, often based on race or looks.
Like judging a whole group by what you assume one kind of person is like.
Security staff should not profile travelers based on appearance.
The agency profiled passengers by nationality, sparking outrage.
UsageOften as racial profiling. Saying someone does this is a criticism.
Similarstereotype, target
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Less common meanings
- 9To check how fast each part of a computer program runs, so you can find the slow parts.
Like timing each runner in a relay team to find who is slowing the team down.
Before fixing the bug, she will profile the app to see what is slow.
They profiled the game engine and found one function eating most of the time.
Similarbenchmark, analyze, measure
Note
- 10A cut made straight across a part of a building to show the exact shape of its edges and trim.
Like cutting straight through a loaf of bread to see the shape inside.
The architect drew the profile to show the exact shape of the cornice.
You can read the depth of each groove from the profile of the molding.
Similarcross-section, section
Note
- 11A drawing that shows a side view of the ground along a measured line, with its highs, lows, and slopes.
Like a side view of a roller coaster track, showing every hill and dip.
The engineer studied the profile before planning where the road would climb.
From the profile, you can see where the track rises and falls.
Similarsection
Note
- 12A smoothed upright wall of a dig that shows buried layers and finds, or a drawing or photo of it.
Like a slice through a layer cake, showing each layer from top to bottom.
The team cleaned the profile to reveal the layers of ash and bone.
She photographed the profile before digging any deeper.
Similarsection
Note
- 13To draw something showing only its side view or outline.
- 14To shape something into an exact form by cutting, chiseling, or milling it.
- 15An official excuse that frees a soldier from certain duties because of an injury or disability.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From French profil, from Italian profilo meaning 'a border', from Latin pro ('before') plus filum ('a thread').
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- English profile comes from French profil. en.wiktionary.org
- French profil comes from Italian profilo, meaning 'a border'. en.wiktionary.org
- The ultimate Latin components are pro, meaning 'before', and filum, meaning 'a thread'. en.wiktionary.org