pro|fane /prəfe I n, [AM ] proʊ-/ (profanes , profaning , profaned )
1 ADJ Profane behaviour shows disrespect for a religion or religious things. [FORMAL ] □ …profane language.
2 ADJ Something that is profane is concerned with everyday life rather than religion and spiritual things. □ The cardinal said that churches should not be used for profane or secular purposes.
3 VERB If someone profanes a religious belief or institution, they treat it with disrespect. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They have profaned the long upheld traditions of the Church.
pro|fan|ity /prəfæ n I ti, [AM ] proʊ-/ (profanities )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Profanity is an act that shows disrespect for a religion or religious beliefs. [FORMAL ] □ To desecrate a holy spring is considered profanity.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Profanities are swear words. [FORMAL ]
pro|fess /prəfe s/ (professes , professing , professed )
1 VERB If you profess to do or have something, you claim that you do it or have it, often when you do not. [FORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] She professed to hate her nickname. □ [V that] Why do organisations profess that they care? □ [V n] 'I don't know,' Pollard replied, professing innocence. □ [V -ed] …the Republicans' professed support for traditional family values.
2 VERB If you profess a feeling, opinion, or belief, you express it. [FORMAL ] □ [V to-inf] He professed to be content with the arrangement. □ [V pron-refl adj] Bacher professed himself pleased with the Indian tour. □ [V n] …a right to profess their faith in Islam.
pro|fes|sion ◆◇◇ /prəfe ʃ ə n/ (professions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A profession is a type of job that requires advanced education or training. □ Harper was a teacher by profession. □ Only 20 per cent of jobs in the professions are held by women.
2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] You can use profession to refer to all the people who have the same profession. □ The attitude of the medical profession is very much more liberal now.
pro|fes|sion|al ◆◆◇ /prəfe ʃən ə l/ (professionals )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Professional means relating to a person's work, especially work that requires special training. □ His professional career started at Liverpool University. ● pro|fes|sion|al|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □ …a professionally-qualified architect.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Professional people have jobs that require advanced education or training. □ …highly qualified professional people like doctors and engineers. ● N‑COUNT Professional is also a noun. □ My father wanted me to become a professional and have more stability.
3 ADJ You use professional to describe people who do a particular thing to earn money rather than as a hobby. □ This has been my worst time for injuries since I started as a professional footballer. ● N‑COUNT Professional is also a noun. □ He had been a professional since March 1985. ● pro|fes|sion|al|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ By age 16 he was playing professionally with bands in Greenwich Village.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Professional sports are played for money rather than as a hobby. □ …an art student who had played professional football for a short time.
5 ADJ If you say that something that someone does or produces is professional , you approve of it because you think that it is of a very high standard. [APPROVAL ] □ They run it with a truly professional but personal touch. ● N‑COUNT Professional is also a noun. □ …a dedicated professional who worked harmoniously with the cast and crew. ● pro|fes|sion|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ These tickets have been produced very professionally.
6 → see also semi-professional SYNONYMS professional ADJ 2
qualified: Demand has far outstripped supply of qualified teachers.
skilled: New industries demanded skilled labour not available locally.
white-collar: White-collar workers now work longer hours.
pro|fe s|sion|al fou l (professional fouls ) N‑COUNT In football, if a player commits a professional foul , they deliberately do something which is against the rules in order to prevent another player from scoring a goal.
pro|fes|sion|al|ism /prəfe ʃən ə l I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Professionalism in a job is a combination of skill and high standards. [APPROVAL ] □ American companies pride themselves on their professionalism.
pro|fes|sion|al|ize /prəfe ʃənəla I z/ (professionalizes , professionalizing , professionalized ) in BRIT, also use professionalise VERB To professionalize an organization, an institution, or an activity means to make it more professional, for example by paying the people who are involved in it. □ [V n] Foster parents will be paid salaries to professionalise their role. ● pro|fes|sion|ali|za|tion /prəfe ʃən ə la I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The professionalization of politics is a major source of our ills.
pro|fes|sor ◆◆◇ /prəfe sə r / (professors )
1 N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT A professor in a British university is the most senior teacher in a department. □ …Professor Cameron. □ In 1979, only 2% of British professors were female.
2 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A professor in an American or Canadian university or college is a teacher of the highest rank. □ Robert Dunn is a professor of economics at George Washington University.