pro

pro¹ [prəu US prou] n plural pros

[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: professional]

1.) someone who is paid to do something, especially play a sport, that other people do for pleasure

= ↑professional

≠ ↑amateur

▪ a tennis pro

▪ the small gap between top amateurs and pros in golf

2.) informal also old pro

someone who has had a lot of experience with a particular type of situation

▪ Cathy's an old pro at organizing raffles.

3.) pros and cons

the advantages and disadvantages of something

the pros and cons of (doing) sth

▪ We discussed the pros and cons of going to university.

4.) BrE old-fashioned informal a ↑prostitute

→↑pro forma, ↑pro rata

pro ²

pro² adj informal

1.) paid to do something, especially play a sport, that other people do for pleasure

= ↑professional

turn/go pro

▪ Most young talented players are determined to turn pro.

2.) AmE played or done by people who are paid for what they do

▪ pro basketball

pro ³

pro³ prep

[Date: 1300-1400; : Latin; Origin: 'for']

if you are pro an idea, suggestion etc, you support it

▪ As a party, they had always been pro family.