Etimology
The noun is from Middle English practice, practique, practyse, from the verb; also compare Medieval Latin prāctica.The verb is from Middle English practice, practise, practize, practyse, from Middle French pratiser, practiser, alteration of practiquer, from Medieval Latin prācticāre, from Late Latin prācticus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós).The spelling practice is attested once in Middle English for both the noun and the verb. The noun began to be assimilated in spelling to nouns in -ice; practise (noun) is now obsolete.
noun
practice (usually uncountable, plural practices)
Repetition of an activity to improve a skill.
An organized event for the purpose of performing such repetition.
(uncountable, especially medicine, art) The ongoing pursuit of a craft or profession, particularly in medicine or the fine arts.
(countable) A place where a professional service is provided, such as a general practice.
The observance of religious duties that a church requires of its members.
A customary action, habit, or behaviour; a manner or routine.
Actual operation or experiment, in contrast to theory.
(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.
Skilful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; stratagem; artifice.
(mathematics) An easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
Examples
Synonyms: rehearsal, drill, dry run, exercise, training, trial, workout
He will need lots of practice with the lines before he performs them.
Being on a team is hard: you're always having to go to practice while everyone else is taking it easy.
I have choir practice every Sunday after church.
Which is the most demanding? I think that my practice as an artist is 'stronger' because it is the practice that best fuels and balances myself and that generates new knowledge for my other work as both arts educator and creative arts therapist.
Synonym: general practice
She ran a thriving medical practice.
Synonyms: custom, habit, pattern, routine, wont, wone
It is the usual practice of employees there to wear neckties only when meeting with customers.
It is good practice to check each door and window before leaving.
Antonym: theory
That may work in theory, but will it work in practice?
This firm of solicitors is involved in family law practice.
He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.
Related words
related terms
practic
practicable
practical
practitioner
verb
practice (third-person singular simple present practices, present participle practicing, simple past and past participle practiced)
(now US) Alternative spelling of practise
Examples
I have been a liberal housekeeper enough, but I shall not be ashamed to practice economy now.