profile

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pro=file

CIDE DICTIONARY

profile, n. [It. profilo, fr. L. pro before + filum a thread, an outline, shape: cf. F. profil. See File arow, and cf. Purfle, Purl, a fringe.].

•  An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple.  [1913 Webster]
•  A human head represented sidewise, or in a side view; the side face or half face.  [1913 Webster]
•  A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like.  [1913 Webster]

Profile paper (Civil Engin.), paper ruled with vertical and horizontal lines forming small oblong rectangles, adapted for drawing profiles.<-- = graph paper? -->

profile, v. t. [Cf. F. profiler, It. profilare. See Profile, n.].

•  to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member.  [1913 Webster]
•  To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it.  [1913 Webster]

Profiling machine, a jigging machine.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

profile, n. & v.
--n.
1 a an outline (esp. of a human face) as seen from one side. b a representation of this.
2 a short biographical or character sketch.
3 Statistics a representation by a graph or chart of information (esp. on certain characteristics) recorded in a quantified form.
4 a characteristic personal manner or attitude.
5 a vertical cross-section of a structure.
6 a flat outline piece of scenery on stage.
--v.tr.
1 represent in profile.
2 give a profile to.

Idiom

in profile as seen from one side. keep a low profile remain inconspicuous.

Derivative

profiler n. profilist n.

Etymology

obs. It. profilo, profilare (as PRO-(1), filare spin f. L filare f. filum thread)

THESAURUS

profile

Clio, Muse of history, adventures, analysis, annals, autobiography, bank, beam, biographical sketch, biography, blueprint, border, broad lines, broadside, brouillon, cameo, cartoon, case history, catalog, cataloging, character, character sketch, characterization, chart, cheek, chop, chronicle, chronicles, chronology, coast, confessions, configuration, contour, copy, curriculum vitae, delineate, delineation, depiction, describe, description, design, details, diagram, diary, draft, draw, drawing, ebauche, elevation, esquisse, evocation, examination, experiences, features, figuration, figure, flank, fortunes, framework, galbe, gestalt, graph, graphic account, ground plan, hagiography, hagiology, hand, handedness, haunch, head, hip, historiography, history, house plan, ichnography, image, imagery, impression, itemization, journal, jowl, laterality, legend, life, life and letters, life story, limn, limning, line, lineaments, lineation, lines, list, main features, many-sidedness, martyrology, memoir, memoirs, memorabilia, memorial, memorials, miniature, multilaterality, necrology, obituary, outline, particularization, pattern, photobiography, photograph, picture, planking, plot, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, projection, quarter, record, relief, rendering, rendition, representation, resume, rough, shapes, shore, side, siding, silhouette, skeleton, sketch, specification, statistics, story, study, survey, table, temple, theory of history, tournure, unilaterality, vignette, vivid description, word painting, working drawing

ROGET THESAURUS

profile

Outline

N outline, circumference, perimeter, periphery, ambit, circuit, lines tournure, contour, profile, silhouette, bounds, coast line, zone, belt, girth, band, baldric, zodiac, girdle, tyre, cingle, clasp, girt, cordon, circlet.

Laterality

N laterality, side, flank, quarter, lee, hand, cheek, jowl, jole, wing, profile, temple, parietes, loin, haunch, hip, beam, gable, gable end, broadside, lee side, points of the compass, East, Orient, Levant, West, orientation, lateral, sidelong, collateral, parietal, flanking, skirting, flanked, sideling, many sided, multilateral, bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral, Eastern, orient, oriental, Levantine, Western, occidental, Hesperian, sideways, sidelong, broadside on, on one side, abreast, alongside, beside, aside, by the side of, side by side, cheek by jowl, to windward, to leeward, laterally, right and left, on her beam ends, his cheek the may of days outworn.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.

Painting

N painting, depicting, drawing, design, perspective, sciagraphy, skiagraphy, chiaroscuro, composition, treatment, historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting, landscape painting, marine painting, still life, flower painting, scene painting, scenography, school, style, the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture, ornamental art, monochrome, polychrome, grisaille, pallet, palette, easel, brush, pencil, stump, black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel, paint, watercolor, body color, oil color, oils, oil paint, varnish, priming, gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass, enamel, encaustic painting, mosaic, tapestry, photography, heliography, color photography, sun painting, graphics, computer graphics, picture, painting, piece, tableau, canvas, oil painting, fresco, cartoon, easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft, pencil drawing, water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink, sketch, outline, study, photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph, daguerreotype, talbotype, calotype, heliotype, negative, positive, print, glossy print, matte print, enlargement, reduction, life-size print, instant photo, Polaroid photo, technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Polaroid, portrait, whole length, full length, half length, kitcat, head, miniature, shade, silhouette, profile, landscape, seapiece, view, scene, prospect, panorama, diorama, still life, picture gallery, exhibit, studio, atelier, pinacotheca, painted, pictorial, graphic, picturesque, pencil, oil, in pencil, fecit, delineavit, mutum est pictura poema.