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prostitute

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒstɪˌtjuːt/

The English word “prostitute” has 8 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means.
  2. Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute.
  3. Exposed, subjected (to something shameful).

noun

  1. Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
  2. A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
  3. 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.

verb

  1. To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money.
  2. To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes.

Etymology

From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).

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