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professional
prod² n 1 an act of prodding: You'd better give her memory a prod. (=remind her) 2 an instrument used for prodding
Pro·di, Ro·ma·no /'prəʊdi, rəʊ'mɑːnəʊ/ (1939–) an Italian politician and former Prime Minister of Italy, who became President of the European Commission in 1999
prod·i·gal¹ /'prɒdɪgəl||'prɑː-/ adj 1 derog carelessly wasteful, especially of money: his prodigal lifestyle 2 [F+of] fml apprec giving or producing large amounts freely and generously: a mind prodigal of ideas —ly adv —ity /ˌprɒdɪ'gælɪti||ˌprɑː-/ n [U]
prodigal² n infml, often humor a person who leads a life of careless wasteful spending and perhaps immoral pleasure
,prodigal 'son, the (often cap.) a young man in a story in the Bible who leaves home and wastes his time and money but then feels sorry and returns home, where he receives a joyful welcome from his father → see also kill the fatted calf (KILL)
pro·di·gious /prə'dɪdʒəs/ adj wonderfully large, powerful etc: a prodigious memory —ly adv
prod·i·gy /'prɒdɪdʒi||'prɑː-/ n 1 a person who has unusual and very noticeable abilities: a child prodigy (=an unusually clever child) 2 a wonder in nature: Mount Everest is one of nature's prodigies.
pro·duce¹ /prə'djuːs||-'duːs/ v 1 [T] to grow or bring into existence naturally: These trees produce rubber. | The pancreas is an organ in the body that produces insulin. | Canada produces high-quality wheat. 2 [I;T] to make (goods for sale), especially in large quantities: They produce over 250 cars a week. | Gas can be produced from coal. | The factory hasn't begun to produce yet. → see also MASS-PRODUCE 3 [T] to make by using skill and imagination: to produce a work of art | She can produce a delicious meal from simple ingredients. 4 [T] to give birth to (a young animal): Female sheep produce one or two lambs at a time. | (humor) Mrs Dobson has just produced twins. 5 [T] to show, bring out, or offer for examination or consideration: The magician produced a rabbit from a hat. | Can you produce any proof of your date of birth? | He suddenly produced a gun. 6 [T] to prepare and bring before the public: The book/The play was produced on a very small budget. 7 [T] to cause; have as a result or effect: The election did not produce a clear victory for any party. | The two lasers combine to produce a powerful cutting tool. 8 [T] tech (in GEOMETRY) to lengthen or continue (a line) to a point → see PRODUCTION (USAGE)
prod·uce² /'prɒdjus||'prɒduːs/ n [U] something that has been produced, especially by growing or farming: The wine bottle was marked 'Produce of Spain'. → see PRODUCTION (USAGE)
pro·duc·er /prə'djuːsə||-'duː-/ n 1 a person, company, or country that produces goods, foods, or materials: one of the world's leading oil producers → compare CONSUMER 2 a person who has general control especially of the money for a play, film, or broadcast, but who does not direct the actors → compare DIRECTOR, IMPRESARIO; see PRODUCTION (USAGE)
prod·uct /'prɒdʌkt||'prɑː-/ n 1 something useful produced by growth or from the ground, or made in a factory: The country's main products are cocoa and gold. | a decline in our exports of manufactured products | to market new products | the finished product coming off the assembly line → see also BY-PRODUCT, END PRODUCT, GNP 2 something that is produced as a result of thought, will, planning, conditions etc: Today's housing problems are the product of years of neglect. 3 [often] tech (in MATHEMATICS) the number got by multiplying two or more numbers: The product of 3 multiplied by 2 multiplied by 6 is 36. 4 tech a new chemical compound produced by chemical action → see PRODUCTION (USAGE)
pro·duc·tion /prə'dʌkʃən/ n 1 [U often] the act of producing something: Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. | She has been involved in the production of several well-known films. 2 [U] the process of making products: one of the stages in the production of paper | When will the new range of computers go into (full) production? (=begin to be produced in large numbers) | a factory's production manager | to stimulate production 3 [U] the amount produced: Production of steel has increased in the last few weeks. | a cut in production 4 [C] something produced by skill or imagination, especially a work of art or a play, film, or broadcast: This theatre is known for its imaginative productions. → see also MASS PRODUCTION
Compare production, product, produce and producer. Production [U] is the process in which things are made: a good rate of production. A production [C] is a play, film etc made for the theatre, television etc: a new production of 'Hamlet'. A product [C] is something made by industry: various industrial products. Produce [U] ('') is the general word for things got from a farm, such as milk, potatoes, or wool: a large quantity of agricultural produce. If you produce ('') any of the things mentioned above you are a producer.
pro'duction line n an arrangement of workers and machines in a factory so that the stages of work follow each other in order; ASSEMBLY LINE
pro'duction number n (in a MUSICAL) a scene involving many people singing and usually dancing on the stage all at once
pro'duction platform n a large piece of equipment standing on very long legs used for getting oil out of the ground under the sea
pro·duc·tive /prə'dʌktɪv/ adj 1 that produces well or in large quantities: a very productive writer | productive land | a productive meeting (=bringing useful results) → opposite UNPRODUCTIVE 2 of or resulting in the production of goods or wealth: Office work is necessary, but most of it is not directly productive. | the factory's productive capacity —ly adv —ness n [U]
pro·duc·tiv·i·ty /ˌprɒdʌk'tɪvɪti, -dʌk-||ˌprɑ-/ n [U] the rate of producing goods, crops etc; the relationship between the amount that is produced and the work, money etc, that is needed to produce it: new production methods that have led to high/increased productivity | a productivity bonus
'product placement n [U] a form of advertising in which a company arranges for one or more of its products to appear in a television programme or film
Prof¹ written abbrev. for PROFESSOR: Prof Peter Smith
Prof², prof /prɒf||prɑːf/ n slang for PROFESSOR
pro·fane¹ /prə'feɪn/ adj 1 showing disrespect for God or for holy things: To smoke in a church or mosque would be a profane act. 2 (especially of language) socially shocking, especially because of improper use of religious words → compare OBSCENE 3 fml not religious or holy; concerned with human life in this world; SECULAR: profane art → opposite SACRED —ly adv
profane² v [T] to treat (especially something holy) disrespectfully —fanation /ˌprɒfə'neɪʃən||ˌprɑː-/ n [C;U]
pro·fan·i·ty /prə'fænɪti/ n [C;U] (an example of) being profane, especially in language: Their conversation was full of profanities. (=shocking words) → compare BLASPHEMY, OBSCENITY
pro·fess /prə'fes/ v [T] fml 1 to make a (usually false or insincere) claim of or about: She professed ignorance of their intentions. | [+to-v] I don't profess to know anything about poetry. 2 to declare openly or freely (a personal feeling, belief etc): The president has professed his enthusiasm for the scheme. | [+obj+n/adj] She professed herself (to be) completely satisfied with the arrangements. 3 to have (a religion or belief)
pro·fessed /prə'fest/ adj 1 [A] plainly self-declared: She is a professed man-hater. 2 pretended: a professed sorrow —ly /prə'fesɪdli/ adv
pro·fes·sion /prə'feʃən/ n 1 [C] a form of employment, especially one that is possible only for an educated person and after training (such as law, medicine, or teaching) and that is respected in society as honourable: He is a lawyer by profession. | to pursue a profession → see JOB (USAGE) 2 [the+sing./pl. v] the whole body of people in a particular profession: The teaching profession claim(s) to be badly paid. | Dr Wilde is well-respected by leading members of the (medical) profession. 3 [C often] fml a declaration of one's belief, opinion, or feeling: professions of regret 4 the oldest profession in the world humor the profession of being a PROSTITUTE
pro·fes·sion·al¹ /prə'feʃənəl/ adj 1 [A no comp.] of or working in one of the professions: I'm not sure about your legal