[ˈprəʊfʌɪl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an outline of something, especially a person's face, as seen from one side
(e.g: the man turned and she caught his profile)

- a short article giving a description of a person or organization
(e.g: a profile of a Texas tycoon)

- the extent to which a person or organization attracts public notice
(e.g: raising the profile of women in industry)

- a graphical or other representation of information relating to particular characteristics of something, recorded in quantified form
(e.g: a sleep profile for someone on a shift system)


Phrases:
- in profile

Origin:
mid 17th century: from obsolete Italian profilo, from the verb profilare, from pro- ‘forth’ + filare ‘to spin’, formerly ‘draw a line’ (from Latin filare, from filum ‘thread’)

[ˈprəʊfʌɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- describe (a person or organization) in a short article
(e.g: he was to profile a backbench MP)

- represent in outline from one side
(e.g: he was standing motionless, profiled on the far side of the swimming pool)


Phrases:
- in profile

Origin:
mid 17th century: from obsolete Italian profilo, from the verb profilare, from pro- ‘forth’ + filare ‘to spin’, formerly ‘draw a line’ (from Latin filare, from filum ‘thread’)