Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Profound \Pro*found"\, v. t.
   To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far
   down. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.

Profound \Pro*found"\, v. i.
   To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]

Profound \Pro*found"\, a. [F. profond, L. profundus; pro before,
   forward + fundus the bottom. See {Found} to establish,
   {Bottom} lowest part.]
   1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a
      great depth; deep. ``A gulf profound.'' --Milton.

   2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching
      to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning;
      thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a
      profound scholar; profound wisdom.

   3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading;
      overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a
      profound sleep. ``Profound sciatica.'' --Shak.

            Of the profound corruption of this class there can
            be no doubt.                          --Milman.

   4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility;
      lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.

            What humble gestures! What profound reverence!
                                                  --Duppa.

Profound \Pro*found"\, n.
   1. The deep; the sea; the ocean.

            God in the fathomless profound Hath all this choice
            commanders drowned.                   --Sandys.

   2. An abyss. --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

profound
     adj 1: showing intellectual penetration or emotional depths; from
            the depths of your being; "the differences are
            profound"; "a profound insight"; "a profound book"; "a
            profound mind"; "profound contempt"; "profound regret"
            [ant: {superficial}]
     2: of the greatest intensity; complete; "a profound silence";
        "a state of profound shock"
     3: far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the
        nature of something; "the fundamental revolution in human
        values that has occurred"; "the book underwent fundamental
        changes"; "committed the fundamental error of confusing
        spending with extravagance"; "profound social changes"
        [syn: {fundamental}]
     4: coming from deep within one; "a profound sigh"
     5: (of sleep) deep and complete; "a heavy sleep"; "fell into a
        profound sleep"; "a sound sleeper"; "deep wakeless sleep"
        [syn: {heavy}, {sound}, {wakeless}]
     6: situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have
        been sounded or plumbed; "the profound depths of the sea";
        "the dark unfathomed caves of ocean"-Thomas Gray;
        "unplumbed depths of the sea"; "remote and unsounded
        caverns" [syn: {unfathomed}, {unplumbed}, {unsounded}]