prostitute

[ pros-ti-toot, -tyoot ]
/ ˈprɒs tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /

noun

a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money; whore; harlot.
a man who engages in sexual acts for money.
a person who willingly uses his or her talent or ability in a base and unworthy way, usually for money.

verb (used with object), pros·ti·tut·ed, pros·ti·tut·ing.

to sell or offer (oneself) as a prostitute.
to put to any base or unworthy use: to prostitute one's talents.

Origin of prostitute

1520–30; < Latin prōstitūta, noun use of feminine of prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituere to expose (for sale), equivalent to prō- pro-1 + -stitū-, combining form of variant stem of statuere to cause to stand + -tus past participle suffix; see status

OTHER WORDS FROM prostitute

pros·ti·tu·tor, noun un·pros·ti·tut·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for prostitute

British Dictionary definitions for prostitute

prostitute
/ (ˈprɒstɪˌtjuːt) /

noun

a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money
a man who engages in such activity, esp in homosexual practices
a person who offers his talent or work for unworthy purposes

verb (tr)

to offer (oneself or another) in sexual intercourse for money
to offer (a person, esp oneself, or a person's talent) for unworthy purposes

Derived forms of prostitute

prostitution, noun prostitutor, noun

Word Origin for prostitute

C16: from Latin prōstituere to expose to prostitution, from prō- in public + statuere to cause to stand