Architecture, the draught of a building, fortification, &c. wherein are expressed the several heights, widths, and thicknesses, such as they would appear were the building cut down perpendicularly from the roof to the foundation. Whence the profile is also called the section, sometimes orthograpical section, and by Vitruvius also sciagraphy. Profile, in this sense, amounts to the same with elevation; and stands opposed to plan or ichnography.

Profile is also used for the contour or outline of a figure, building, member of architecture, or the like; as a base, a cornice, &c. Hence profiling is sometimes used for designing, or describing the member with rule, compass, &c.

sculpture and painting.—A head, a portrait, &c. are said to be in profile, when they are represented sidewise, or in a side-view; as, when in a portrait there is but one side of the face, one eye, one cheek, &c. shown, and nothing of the other.—On almost all medals, the faces are represented in profile.