prostitute

== English == === Etymology === From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) +‎ statuō (“to set up, to erect”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, without the yod-coalescence) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒstɪˌtjuːt/, [ˈpɹɒstɪtʰjuːt] (yod-coalescence) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt/, [ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt] (General American, without weak vowel merger) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑstɪˌtu(ː)t/, [ˈpɹɑstɪˌtʰu(ː)t] (weak vowel merger) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑstəˌtu(ː)t/ Hyphenation: pros‧ti‧tute === Adjective === prostitute (comparative more prostitute, superlative most prostitute) (obsolete) Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means. [16th–19th c.] Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute. [from 16th c.] (obsolete) Exposed, subjected (to something shameful). [16th–18th c.] === Noun === prostitute (plural prostitutes) Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood. [from 18th c.] Synonyms: sex worker; see also Thesaurus:prostitute Hyponyms: see Thesaurus:prostitute A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood. [from 17th c.] A person who does, or offers to do, a demeaning or dishonourable activity for money or personal gain; someone who acts in a dishonourable way for personal advantage. [from 17th c.] Synonym: sellout ==== Usage notes ==== Some speakers consider prostitutes (sex workers) to be female by default, and thus use male prostitute to refer to a male performing the same job. ==== Synonyms ==== Thesaurus:prostitute ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === prostitute (third-person singular simple present prostitutes, present participle prostituting, simple past and past participle prostituted) (transitive, reflexive) To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money. [from 16th c.] (transitive, derogatory) To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes. ==== Synonyms ==== (to offer oneself for sexual activity for money): sell one's body, turn tricks; see also Thesaurus:prostitute oneself (to offer another person for sexual activity for money): pimp; see also Thesaurus:pimp out (to use one's talents for money): sell out ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== prostitution ==== Translations ==== == Afrikaans == === Noun === prostitute plural of prostituut == Italian == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /pros.tiˈtu.te/ Rhymes: -ute Hyphenation: pro‧sti‧tù‧te === Noun === prostitute f plural of prostituta == Latin == === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [proːs.tɪˈtuː.tɛ] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [pros.tiˈtuː.te] === Participle === prōstitūte vocative masculine singular of prōstitūtus