Definition of: practice

(prak′tis) v. ·ticed, ·tic·ing v.t.
1. To make use of habitually or often: to practice economy.
2. To apply in action; make a practice of: Practice what you preach.
3. To work at or pursue as a profession: to practice law.
4. To do or perform repeatedly in order to acquire skill or training; rehearse.
5. To instruct, as pupils, by repeated exercise or lessons.
—v.i.
6. To repeat or rehearse something in order to acquire skill or proficiency: to practice for a concert.
7. To work at or pursue a profession: He practiced for twenty years.
8. Rare To conspire; scheme.
—noun
1. Any customary action or proceeding regarded as individual; habit.
2. An established custom or usage.
3. The act or process of executing or accomplishing; doing or performance: distinguished from theory.
4. The regular prosecution of a business pursuit requiring education; professional business.
5. Frequent and repeated exercise in any matter.
6. plural Stratagems or schemes for bad purposes; tricks.
7. A rule or method in arithmetic to facilitate multiplying quantities in different denominations.
8. The rules governing legal proceedings. Also prac′tise. [<OF practiser <practiquer <Med. L practicare <LL practicus. See PRACTICAL.]
—prac′tic·er noun♦ In Britain, practice is almost invariably the spelling used for the noun, practise for the verb. In the U.S., the noun form is more commonly practice, although practise is also used; both spellings are widely used as verbs. Synonyms (noun): drill, exercise. Exercise is action with a view to employing, maintaining, or increasing power, or merely for enjoyment; practice is systematic exercise with a view to the acquirement of facility and skill; a person takes a walk for exercise, or takes time for practice on the piano. Practice is also used of putting into action and effect what one has learned or holds as a theory; as, the practice of law or medicine. Educationally, practice is the voluntary and persistent attempt to make skill a habit; as, practice in penmanship. Drill is systematic, rigorous, and commonly enforced practice under a teacher or commander. See CUSTOM, EXERCISE, HABIT, MANNER.