prof|es|so|rial /prɒ f I sɔː riəl/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as professorial , you mean that they look or behave like a professor. □ His manner is not so much regal as professorial. □ I raised my voice to a professorial tone.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Professorial means relating to the work of a professor. □ …the cuts which have led to 36 per cent of professorial posts remaining unfilled.
pro|fes|sor|ship /prəfe sə r ʃ I p/ (professorships ) N‑COUNT A professorship is the post of professor in a university or college. □ He has accepted a research professorship at Cambridge University.
prof|fer /prɒ fə r / (proffers , proffering , proffered )
1 VERB If you proffer something to someone, you hold it towards them so that they can take it or touch it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] She proffered a gloved hand. [Also V n + to ]
2 VERB If you proffer something such as advice to someone, you offer it to them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The army has not yet proffered an explanation of how and why the accident happened. [Also V n + to , V n n]
pro|fi|cien|cy /prəf I ʃ ə nsi/ N‑UNCOUNT If you show proficiency in something, you show ability or skill at it. □ [+ in ] Evidence of basic proficiency in English is part of the admission requirement.
pro|fi|cient /prəf I ʃənt/ ADJ If you are proficient in something, you can do it well. □ [+ in/at ] A great number of Egyptians are proficient in foreign languages.
pro|file ◆◇◇ /proʊ fa I l/ (profiles , profiling , profiled )
1 N‑COUNT Your profile is the outline of your face as it is seen when someone is looking at you from the side. □ His handsome profile was turned away from us.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [in N ] If you see someone in profile , you see them from the side. □ This picture shows the girl in profile.
3 N‑COUNT A profile of someone is a short article or programme in which their life and character are described. □ [+ of ] A newspaper published profiles of the candidates.
4 VERB To profile someone means to give an account of that person's life and character. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] Tamar Golan, a Paris-based journalist, profiles the rebel leader. ● pro|fil|ing /proʊ fa I lŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with supp] □ …a former FBI agent who pioneered psychological profiling in the 1970s. □ DNA profiling has aided the struggle against crime.
5 N‑COUNT Your profile on a social media website is the part where you post your name, picture, and personal information. □ He lied about himself on his profile.
6 PHRASE If someone has a high profile , people notice them and what they do. If you keep a low profile , you avoid doing things that will make people notice you. □ You can't get any higher profile than a James Bond movie.
7 → see also high-profile SYNONYMS profile NOUN 1
outline: He could see only the hazy outline of the goalposts.
form: …the form of the body.
silhouette: The dark silhouette of the castle ruins stood out boldly against the fading light.
prof|it ◆◆◇ /prɒ f I t/ (profits , profiting , profited )
1 N‑VAR A profit is an amount of money that you gain when you are paid more for something than it cost you to make, get, or do it. □ The bank made pre-tax profits of £3.5 million. □ You can improve your chances of profit by sensible planning.
2 VERB If you profit from something, you earn a profit from it. □ [V + from/by ] Footballers are accustomed to profiting handsomely from bonuses. □ [V ] The dealers profited shamefully at the expense of my family.
3 VERB If you profit from something, or it profits you, you gain some advantage or benefit from it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + from/by ] Jennifer wasn't yet totally convinced that she'd profit from a more relaxed lifestyle. □ [V n] So far the French alliance had profited the rebels little. □ [V n to-inf] Whom would it profit to terrify or to kill this man? ● N‑UNCOUNT Profit is also a noun. □ The artist found much to his profit in the Louvre.
prof|it|able /prɒ f I təb ə l/
1 ADJ A profitable organization or practice makes a profit. □ Improved transport turned agriculture into a highly profitable business. □ [+ for ] It was profitable for them to produce large amounts of food. ● prof|it|ably /prɒ f I təbli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ The 28 French stores are trading profitably. ● prof|it|abil|ity /prɒ f I təb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Changes were made in operating methods in an effort to increase profitability.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is profitable results in some benefit for you. □ …collaboration which leads to a profitable exchange of personnel and ideas. ● prof|it|ably ADV [ADV with v] □ In fact he could scarcely have spent his time more profitably.
profi|teer /prɒ f I t I ə r / (profiteers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you describe someone as a profiteer , you are critical of them because they make large profits by charging high prices for goods that are hard to get. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a new social class composed largely of war profiteers and gangsters.
prof|it|eer|ing /prɒ f I t I ə r I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Profiteering involves making large profits by charging high prices for goods that are hard to get. [BUSINESS , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a wave of profiteering and corruption.