pro|test|er /prəte stə r / (protesters ) also protestor N‑COUNT Protesters are people who protest publicly about an issue. □ The protesters say the government is corrupt and inefficient.
pro |test vote (protest votes ) N‑COUNT In an election, a protest vote is a vote against the party you usually support in order to show disapproval of something they are doing or planning to do.
PREFIX proto-
is used to form adjectives and nouns that indicate that something is in the early stages of its development. For example, Proto-Germanic was the language that came before all Germanic languages.
proto|col /proʊ təkɒl, [AM ] -kɔːl/ (protocols )
1 N‑VAR Protocol is a system of rules about the correct way to act in formal situations. □ He has become something of a stickler for the finer observances of royal protocol. □ …minor breaches of protocol.
2 N‑COUNT A protocol is a set of rules for exchanging information between computers. [COMPUTING ]
3 N‑COUNT A protocol is a written record of a treaty or agreement that has been made by two or more countries. [FORMAL ] □ It is diplomatic protocol that a foreign minister often accompanies the head of state on certain journeys.
4 N‑COUNT A protocol is a plan for a course of medical treatment, or a plan for a scientific experiment. [AM , FORMAL ] □ …the detoxification protocol.
pro|ton /proʊ tɒn/ (protons ) N‑COUNT A proton is an atomic particle that has a positive electrical charge. [TECHNICAL ]
proto|type /proʊ təta I p/ (prototypes )
1 N‑COUNT [N n] A prototype is a new type of machine or device which is not yet ready to be made in large numbers and sold. □ [+ of ] He built a prototype of a machine called the wave rotor.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that someone or something is a prototype of a type of person or thing, you mean that they are the first or most typical one of that type. □ [+ of ] He was the prototype of the elder statesman.
proto|typi|cal /proʊ tət I p I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Prototypical is used to indicate that someone or something is a very typical example of a type of person or thing. [FORMAL ] □ Park Ridge is the prototypical American suburb. □ …a prototypical socialist.
proto|zoan /proʊ təzoʊ ən/ (protozoa or protozoans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Protozoa are very small organisms which often live inside larger animals. [TECHNICAL ]
pro|tract|ed /prətræ kt I d, [AM ] proʊ-/ ADJ Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped. [FORMAL ] □ After protracted negotiations, Ogden got the deal he wanted. □ The struggle would be bitter and protracted.
pro|trac|tor /prətræ ktə r , [AM ] proʊ-/ (protractors ) N‑COUNT A protractor is a flat, semi-circular piece of plastic or metal which is used for measuring angles.
pro|trude /prətruː d, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protrudes , protruding , protruded ) VERB If something protrudes from somewhere, it sticks out. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep] …a huge round mass of smooth rock protruding from the water. □ [V ] The tip of her tongue was protruding slightly. ● pro|trud|ing ADJ □ …protruding ears.
pro|tru|sion /prətruː ʒ ə n, [AM ] proʊ-/ (protrusions ) N‑COUNT A protrusion is something that sticks out from something. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He grabbed at a protrusion of rock with his right hand.
pro|tu|ber|ance /prətjuː bərəns, [AM ] proʊtuː b-/ (protuberances ) N‑COUNT A protuberance is a rounded part that sticks out from the surface of something. [FORMAL ] □ …a protuberance on the upper jawbone.
pro|tu|ber|ant /prətjuː bərənt, [AM ] proʊtuː b-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Protuberant eyes, lips, noses, or teeth stick out more than usual from the face. [FORMAL ]
proud ◆◇◇ /praʊ d/ (prouder , proudest )
1 ADJ [ADJ that/to-inf] If you feel proud , you feel pleased about something good that you possess or have done, or about something good that a person close to you has done. □ [+ of ] I felt proud of his efforts. □ They are proud that she is doing well at school. □ I am proud to be a Canadian. □ Derek is now the proud father of a bouncing baby girl. ● proud|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'That's the first part finished,' he said proudly.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Your proudest moments or achievements are the ones that you are most proud of. □ This must have been one of the proudest moments of his busy and hard working life.
3 ADJ Someone who is proud has respect for themselves and does not want to lose the respect that other people have for them. □ He was too proud to ask his family for help and support.
4 ADJ Someone who is proud feels that they are better or more important than other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She was said to be proud and arrogant.
prove ◆◆◇ /pruː v/ (proves , proving , proved , proved or proven )
1 V‑LINK If something proves to be true or to have a particular quality, it becomes clear after a period of time that it is true or has that quality. □ [V to-inf] None of the rumours has ever been proved to be true. □ [V adj] In the past this process of transition has often proven difficult. □ [V n] …an experiment which was to prove a source of inspiration for many years to come.
2 VERB If you prove that something is true, you show by means of argument or evidence that it is definitely true. □ [V n] You brought this charge. You prove it! □ [V that] The results prove that regulation of the salmon farming industry is inadequate. □ [V wh] …trying to prove how groups of animals have evolved. □ [V n adj] That made me hopping mad and determined to prove him wrong. □ [V n to-inf] History will prove him to have been right all along. □ [V -ed] …a proven cause of cancer.