practice

Definitions

1. 1.2. Customary or constant use; state of being used. Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice. Dryden.
2. 2.Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak.
3. 3.Actual performance; application of knowledge; -- opposed to theory. There are two functions of the soul, -- contemplation and practice. South. There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory. Sir W. Hamilton.
4. 4.Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.
5. 5.Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as, the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice. Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art. Sir W. Hamilton.
6. 6.Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; -- usually in a bad sense. [Obs.] Bacon. He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer. Sir P. Sidney.
7. 7.(Math.) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
8. 8.(Law) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. Bouvier.
9. 9.To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming. "Incline not my heart . . . practice wicked works." Ps. cxli.
10. 10.2. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine.
11. 11.To exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music.
12. 12.To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do. "Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practice your severity." Shak. As this advice ye practice or neglect. Pope.
13. 13.To make use of; to employ. [Obs.] In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her. Massinger.
14. 14.To teach or accustom by practice; to train. In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor. Landor.
15. 15.To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano. practise 2. To learn by practice; to form a habit. They shall practice how to live secure. Milton. Practice first over yourself to reign. Waller.
16. 16.To try artifices or stratagems. He will practice against thee by poison. Shak.
17. 17.To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law. [I am] little inclined to practice on others, and as little that others should practice on me. Sir W. Temple.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "practice" mean?
• What is another word for "practice"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is practice.

• What is 2. Customary or constant use; state of being used. Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice. Dryden called?
• What is skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak called?
• What is systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music called?
• What is a easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business called?
• What is the form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. Bouvier called?
• What is to do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming. "Incline not my heart . . . practice wicked works." Ps. cxli called?
• What is 2. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine called?
• What is to exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music called?
• What is to put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do. "Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practice your severity." Shak. As this advice ye practice or neglect. Pope called?
• What is to make use of; to employ. [Obs.] In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her. Massinger called?
• What is to teach or accustom by practice; to train. In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor. Landor called?
• What is to try artifices or stratagems. He will practice against thee by poison. Shak called?