prac·tice
(prăk′tĭs)v. prac·ticed, prac·tic·ing, prac·tic·es
v.tr.1. To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: practices courtesy in social situations.
2. To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step.
3. To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting.
4. To work at, especially as a profession: practice law.
5. To carry out in action; observe: practices a religion piously.
6. Obsolete To plot (something evil).
v.intr.1. To do something repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: With any musical instrument, you need to practice to get better.
2. To work at a profession: How long has that lawyer been practicing?
3. To do or perform something habitually or repeatedly: Why not practice in the same manner that you preach?
4. Archaic To intrigue or plot.
n.1. A habitual or customary action or way of doing something: makes a practice of being punctual.
2. a. Repeated performance of an activity in order to learn or perfect a skill: Practice will make you a good musician.
b. A session of preparation or performance undertaken to acquire or polish a skill: goes to piano practice weekly; scheduled a soccer practice for Saturday.
c. Archaic The skill so learned or perfected.
d. The condition of being skilled through repeated exercise: out of practice.
3. The act or process of doing something; performance or action: a theory that is difficult to put into practice.
4. Exercise of an occupation or profession: the practice of law.
5. The business of a professional person: an obstetrician with her own practice.
6. A habitual or customary action or act: That company engages in questionable business practices. Facial tattooing is a standard practice among certain peoples.
7. Law The procedure for trial of cases in a court of law, usually specified by rules.
8. Archaic a. The act of tricking or scheming, especially with malicious intent.
b. A trick, scheme, or intrigue.
[Middle English practisen, from Old French practiser, alteration of practiquer, from practique, practice, from Medieval Latin prāctica; see practicable.]
prac′tic·er n.
Synonyms: practice, exercise, rehearse These verbs mean to do repeatedly to acquire or maintain proficiency:
practice the shot put; exercising one's wits; rehearsed the play for 14 days. See Also Synonyms at
habit.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.