adj. and n. abbr. of ~fessional
1) ( usu. sports) to turn ~ (he turned ~ at the age of twenty)
2) a real, true ~ (she is a real ~) ('she does her work seriously and well')
USAGE NOTE: A ~fessional tennis player and a ~fessional golfer compete for money. A tennis ~fessional and a golf ~ coach for money, usu. at clubs.