From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
profile
n 1: an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the
extent to which something exhibits various characteristics;
"a biochemical profile of blood"; "a psychological profile
of serial killers"
2: an outline of something (especially a human face as seen from
one side)
3: biographical sketch
4: degree of exposure to public notice; "that candidate does not
have sufficient visibility to win an election" [syn:
visibility, profile]
5: a vertical section of the Earth's crust showing the different
horizons or layers
v 1: write about; "The author of this article profiles a famous
painter"
2: represent in profile, by drawing or painting
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Profile \Pro"file\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profiled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Profiling] [Cf. F. profiler, It. profilare. See
Profile, n.]
1. to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an
architectural member.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Mech.) To shape the outline of an object by passing a
cutter around it.
[1913 Webster]
Profiling machine, a jigging machine.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Profile \Pro"file\, n. [It. profilo, fr. L. pro before + filum a
thread, an outline, shape: cf. F. profil. See File arow,
and cf. Purfle, Purl, a fringe.]
1. An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Paint & Sculp.) A human head represented sidewise, or in
a side view; the side face or half face.
[1913 Webster]
3.
(a) (Arch.) A section of any member, made at right angles
with its main lines, showing the exact shape of
moldings and the like.
(b) (Civil Engin.) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section
of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work,
as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions,
grades, etc.
[1913 Webster]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
PROFILE
Simple language for matching and scoring data. "User's Manual
for the PROFILE System", Cambridge Computer Assoc (May 1974).
[Jargon File]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
profile
1. A control file for a program, especially a text file
automatically read from each user's home directory and
intended to be easily modified by the user in order to
customise the program's behaviour. Used to avoid hard-coded
choices (see also dot file, rc file).
2. A report on the amounts of time spent in each routine of a
program, used to find and tune away the hot spots in it.
This sense is often verbed. Some profiling modes report units
other than time (such as call counts) and/or report at
granularities other than per-routine, but the idea is similar.
From Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) [jargon]:
profile
n.
1. A control file for a program, esp. a text file automatically read
from each user's home directory and intended to be easily modified by
the user in order to customize the program's behavior. Used to avoid
hardcoded choices (see also dot file, rc file).
2. [techspeak] A report on the amounts of time spent in each routine
of a program, used to find and tune away the hot spots in it. This
sense is often verbed. Some profiling modes report units other than
time (such as call counts) and/or report at granularities other than
per-routine, but the idea is similar. 3.[techspeak] A subset of a
standard used for a particular purpose. This sense confuses hackers
who wander into the weird world of ISO standards no end!