Practice- definition from Oxford Dictionary Online

practice

 

Pronunciation:/ˈpraktɪs/

noun

[mass noun]

• 1the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it:the principles and practice of teachingthe recommendations proved too expensive to put into practice
• the carrying out or exercise of a profession, especially that of a doctor or lawyer:he abandoned medical practice for the Church
• [count noun] the business or premises of a doctor or lawyer:Dr Apps has a practice in Neasham Road

• 2the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something:product placement is common practice in American movies[count noun]:modern child-rearing practices
• an established method of legal procedure.

• 3repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it:it must have taken a lot of practice to become so fluent
• [count noun] a period of time spent practising an activity or skill:daily choir practices

verb

• US spelling of practise

Phrases

in practice

• 1in reality (used to refer to what actually happens as opposed to what is meant or believed to happen):in theory this method is ideal—in practice it is unrealistic

• 2currently proficient in a particular activity or skill as a result of repeated exercise or performance of it.

out of practice

not currently proficient in a particular activity or skill through not having exercised or performed it for some time:he was out of practice at interrogation

practice makes perfect

regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it.

Origin:

late Middle English: from practise, on the pattern of pairs such as advise, advice