profound Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
    • the differences are profound
    • a profound insight
    • a profound book
    • a profound mind
    • profound contempt
    • profound regret
  2. adjective satellite of the greatest intensity; complete
    • a profound silence
    • a state of profound shock
  3. adjective satellite far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something
    fundamental.
    • the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred
    • the book underwent fundamental changes
    • committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance
    • profound social changes
  4. adjective satellite coming from deep within one
    • a profound sigh
  5. adjective satellite (of sleep) deep and complete
    heavy; sound; wakeless.
    • a heavy sleep
    • fell into a profound sleep
    • a sound sleeper
    • deep wakeless sleep
  6. adjective satellite situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have been sounded or plumbed
    unsounded; unplumbed; unfathomed.
    • the profound depths of the sea
    • the dark unfathomed caves of ocean"-Thomas Gray
    • unplumbed depths of the sea
    • remote and unsounded caverns

WordNet

Pro*found" adjective
Etymology
F. profond, L. profundus; pro before, forward + fundus the bottom. See Found to establish, Bottom lowest part.
Definitions
  1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.
  2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
  3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep. "Profound sciatica." Shak.
    Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt. Milman.
  4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
    What humble gestures! What profound reverence! Dupp.
Pro*found" noun
Definitions
  1. The deep; the sea; the ocean.
    God in the fathomless profound Hath all this choice commanders drowned. Sandys.
  2. An abyss. Milton.
Pro*found" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. Obs. Sir T. Browne.
Pro*found" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To dive deeply; to penetrate. Obs.

Webster 1913