profile

A page in an app or website that contains information about a user.

• I changed my profile picture.
• Her profile lists her favorite books.
• Is your profile visible to everyone?

Common phrases: profile picture, update a profile, user profile

A short description or collection of information about a person.

• I read a profile of the singer.
• Police built a profile of the suspect.
• These profiles describe each candidate’s experience.

How to use it: a profile of someone (The magazine published a profile of the actor.)

Similar words: biographical sketch, summary

Common phrases: profile of someone, write a profile, personal profile

The view or shape of someone’s face or head seen from the side.

• The photo shows him in profile.
• She drew her mother’s profile.
• His profile was clear against the bright window.

How to use it: in profile (The artist painted her in profile.)

Similar words: side view

Common phrases: in profile, someone’s profile, profile portrait

The outside shape or edge of an object, seen from a particular direction.

• The roof has a curved profile.
• The mountains’ profiles stood out against the sky.
• He traced the profile of the handle with his finger.

How to use it: the profile of something (The drawing shows the profile of the roof.)

Similar words: outline, contour

Common phrases: profile of something, roof profile, curved profile

A drawing showing how the height of the ground changes along a line.

• The engineer drew a profile of the ground.
• This profile shows a steep slope near the bridge.
• We compared the profiles of two possible railway routes.

Similar words: section

Common phrases: ground profile, railway profile, longitudinal profile

To judge or group people by features such as their race, age, or appearance.

• The guards profiled passengers by appearance.
• He felt the police had racially profiled him.
• The report asks whether officers profile young drivers.

How to use it: profile someone based on something (Officers should not profile people based on their race.)

Common phrases: profile someone, racially profile someone