profiling
UK: /ˈprəʊfaɪlɪŋ/ | US: /ˈproʊfaɪlɪŋ/
n. the act or process of analyzing and categorizing individuals or groups based on specific characteristics (e.g., behavioral, demographic).
n. (computing) the process of collecting data about program execution to optimize performance.
profile<outline> + ing<noun suffix>
- profile: Derived from Italian profilo ("outline"), combining pro- (forward) + filo (line, from Latin filum). Originally referred to a drawn outline, later extended to abstract "character summaries."
- -ing: A productive English suffix forming verbal nouns (e.g., "running," "building").
Etymology Origin:
The word evolved from artistic terminology (16th c.) to broader use in sociology and computing. "Profile" initially described physical contours (e.g., facial outlines), then metaphorically shifted to behavioral or statistical summaries (20th c.). The suffix -ing systematized it as a technical process.
Racial profiling by law enforcement remains a controversial issue.
The software engineer used profiling to identify bottlenecks in the code.
Psychological profiling helps investigators predict criminal behavior.
Marketing teams rely on customer profiling to target advertisements.
The algorithm’s profiling accuracy improved with more data inputs.