high profileadj.n.
/hʌɪ ˈprəʊfʌɪl/, U.S. /ˌhaɪ ˈproʊˌfaɪl/ A. adj.
1. Designating a vehicle tyre with a smaller width in proportion to the height of its sidewall than is usual, often used on commercial vehicles or ones with four-wheel drive. Cf. low-profile adj. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles according to means of motion > vehicle moving on wheels > [adjective] > fitted with tyres > fitted with specific type of tyres
pneumatic-tyred1890
solid-tyred1891
pneumatic-shod1894
balloon-tyred1895
high profile1916
1916 Horseless Age 1 Mar. 205/1 This represents an additional line to the company's High Profile European type tire and completes the range for heavy commercial car service.
1939 Times 23 June 7/5 (advt.) The flat tread and high profile tyre.
1986 Pop. Sci. Feb. 76/3 A low-profile tyre gives a shorter and wider footprint, while a high-profile tire..makes a longer and narrower one.
2003 B. Bowling Compl. Wheel & Tire Buyer's Guide iv. 56/1 High-profile tires continue to be used on light-duty trucks and SUVs that might see off-road use and encounter irregular surfaces and holes.
2. Attracting a lot of attention or publicity; very well-known; conspicuous. Cf. profile n. 9.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > worthy of notice
specialc1405
eminentc1420
markablec1449
noteworthy1552
regardable1572
respectable1584
of —— observation1587
considerable1589
of (great, little, etc.) mark1590
signal1591
remarkable1593
conspicuous1604
noble1604
observative1608
observable1609
significant1642
noteful1644
signalized1652
tall1655
curious1682
notice-worthy1713
unco1724
noticeable1793
handsome1813
epoch-forming1816
measurable1839
epochal1857
epoch-making1863
era-making1894
epoch-marking1895
high profile1950
landmark1959
1950 Daily Tel. 8 July 15 Lamar Hunt is also a high-profile figure with his interest in professional sports such as American football and tennis.
1989 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (2000) II. 6th Ser. Episode 2. 35/2 I want you to look really snappy for the punters, you know, with-it. We've got a high-profile image.
1995 Fusion Sept. 40/2 The games will be high profile, they'll be the top games in the market.
2012 Independent 3 Sept. 16/3 He worked in a high-profile and politically sensitive area of medicine.
B. n.
A conspicuous public image or way of behaving; a high level of exposure to attention or publicity.
ΚΠ
1970 Anderson (Indiana) Herald 9 Apr. 20/2 Scientists now have a very high profile.
1986 National Bus. Rev. 1 Aug. 41 The high profile of the industry has forced investors to become familiar with the three types of goat breeds.
1998 Independent 18 May i. 10/1 The researchers found that predators enjoyed a high profile on their prison wing and were often popular with staff.
2011 F. Schweizer in S. Ledger & H. Furneaux Charles Dickens in Context ii. xv. 119 The high profile of authorship led to an unprecedented rise in the number of people who aspired to literary fame and fortune.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1916