a person engaged in one of the learned professions
an athlete who plays for pay
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood; "the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications"; "began her professional career after the Olympics"; "professional theater"; "professional football"; "a professional cook"; "professional actors and athletes"
characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession; "professional conduct"; "professional ethics"; "a thoroughly professional performance"
engaged in by members of a profession; "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching"
of or relating to a profession; "we need professional advice"; "professional training"; "professional equipment for his new office"
of or relating to or suitable as a profession; "professional organizations"; "a professional field such as law"
marked by or capable of arousing controversy; "the issue of the death penalty is highly controversial"; "Rushdie's controversial book"; "a controversial decision on affirmative action"
(physics) the transfer of energy between elementary particles or between an elementary particle and a field or between fields; mediated by gauge bosons
(of production of chemicals) made for commercial purposes especially on a large scale; "technical (or commercial) sulfuric acid"
resulting from or dependent on market factors rather than fundamental economic considerations; "analysts content that the stock market is due for a technical rally"; "the fall is only a technical correction"
characterizing or showing skill in or specialized knowledge of applied arts and sciences; "a technical problem"; "highly technical matters hardly suitable for the general public"; "a technical report"; "producing the A-bomb was a challenge to the technical people of this country"; "technical training"; "technical language"
of or relating to technique; "technical innovation in recent novels"; "technical details"
of or relating to proficiency in a practical skill; "no amount of technical skill and craftsmanship can take the place of vital interest"- John Dewey
of or relating to a practical subject that is organized according to scientific principles; "technical college"; "technological development"
one of the quantities in a mathematical proportion
properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by `to'; "the punishment ought to be proportional to the crime"; "earnings relative to production"
involving or likely to cause controversy; "a central and contentious element of the book"- Tim W.Ferfuson
inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits; "a style described as abrasive and contentious"; "a disputatious lawyer"; "a litigious and acrimonious spirit"