n.
Pronunciation: ' a-m ə -( ˌ )t ə r, - ˌ tu ̇ r, - ˌ tyu ̇ r, - ˌ chu ̇ r, -ch ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Latin amator lover, from amare to love
Date: 1784
1 : DEVOTEE , ADMIRER
2 : one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession
3 : one lacking in experience and competence in an art or science
– amateur adjective
– am · a · teur · ish \ ˌ a-m ə - ' t ə r-ish, - ' t(y)u ̇ r-, - ' chu ̇ r-, - ' ch ə r- \ adjective
– am · a · teur · ish · ly adverb
– am · a · teur · ish · ness noun
– am · a · teur · ism \ ' a-m ə - ˌ t ə r- ˌ i-z ə m, - ˌ t(y)u ̇ r-, - ˌ chu ̇ r-, - ˌ ch ə r-; - ˌ t ə - ˌ ri-, - ˌ ch ə - ˌ ri- \ noun
synonyms AMATEUR , DILETTANTE , DABBLER , TYRO mean a person who follows a pursuit without attaining proficiency or professional status. AMATEUR often applies to one practicing an art without mastery of its essentials <a painting obviously done by an amateur >; in sports it may also suggest not so much lack of skill but avoidance of direct remuneration <remained an amateur despite lucrative offers>. DILETTANTE may apply to the lover of an art rather than its skilled practitioner but usually implies elegant trifling in the arts and an absence of serious commitment <had no patience for dilettantes >. DABBLER suggests desultory habits of work and lack of persistence <a dabbler who started novels but never finished them>. TYRO implies inexperience often combined with audacity with resulting crudeness or blundering <shows talent but is still a mere tyro >.