/am"euh choor', -cheuhr, -teuhr, am'euh terr"/ , n.
1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons. Cf. professional .
2. an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.
3. a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity: Hunting lions is not for amateurs.
4. a person who admires something; devotee; fan: an amateur of the cinema.
adj.
5. characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional: an amateur painter; amateur tennis.
[ 1775-85; amator lover, equiv. to ama- (s. of amare to love) + -tor -TOR, replaced by F -teur ( -tor-, obl. s. of -tor ); see -EUR ]
Syn. 2. nonprofessional. 3. dilettante, tyro, novice.