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practice

1. Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.

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)

3. Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.

4. 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)

5. To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming. Incline not my heart . . . Practice wicked works.

6. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc, as, to practice law or medicine.

7. 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. Performance of an act one or more times, with a view to its fixation or improvement; any performance of an act or behaviour that leads to learning.

8. To learn]] by practice; to form a habit. They shall practice how to live secure. (milton) Practice first over yourself to reign. (waller)

9. To apply theoretical science or knowledge, especially. 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)

Origin: OE. Praktike, practique, F. Pratique, formerly also, practique, LL. Practica, fr. Gr, fr. Practical. See Practical, and cf. Pratique, Pretty.