Definition: prominent

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

prominent
     adj 1: having a quality that thrusts itself into attention; "an
            outstanding fact of our time is that nations poisoned
            by anti semitism proved less fortunate in regard to
            their own freedom"; "a new theory is the most
            prominent feature of the book"; "salient traits"; "a
            spectacular rise in prices"; "a striking thing about
            Picadilly Circus is the statue of Eros in the center";
            "a striking resemblance between parent and child"
            [syn: outstanding, salient, spectacular, striking]
     2: conspicuous in position or importance; "a big figure in the
        movement"; "big man on campus"; "he's very large in
        financial circles"; "a prominent citizen" [syn: big, large]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Prominent \Prom"i*nent\, a. [L. prominens, -entis, p. pr. of
   prominere to jut out, to project; pro before, forward +
   minere (in comp.) to jut, project: cf. F. prominent. See
   Imminent, Eminent.]
   1. Standing out, or projecting, beyond the line surface of
      something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as, a
      prominent figure on a vase.

   2. Hence; Distinctly manifest; likely to attract attention
      from its size or position; conspicuous; as, a prominent
      feature of the face; a prominent building.

   3. Eminent; distinguished above others; as, a prominent
      character.

   Prominent' moth (Zo["o]l.), any moth of the family
      Notodontid[ae]; a notodontian; -- so called because the
      larva has a hump or prominence on its back. Several of the
      species are injurious to fruit trees.