Practice

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹæktɪs/

Definitions

1. The act of performing an activity repeatedly to enhance ability ; a regular or customary behavior or way of doing things ; the operation of a profession or business by an individual or group
2. Repeatedly carrying out a task to gain proficiency ; a common or established custom or routine ; the management or conduct of a professional service such as law or medicine
3. A process of continual training to develop competence ; the traditional or habitual way of acting in certain situations ; the organized exercise of a professional occupation or trade

Etymology: The Greek adjective "praktikos" meant "concerned with doing," from "prassein," "to do or act." It passed into Late Latin as "practicus," and Medieval Latin then made a verb, "practicare," meaning to work at something or to carry out an activity. Middle French reshaped that verb into "pratiquer," and Middle English borrowed the verb as "practisen" and its variants, which the English word traces back to. The noun came from the verb, and the modern spelling "practice" arose partly because the noun was assimilated to other English nouns ending in "-ice," such as "advice" and "justice." Before "practice" took over the noun's territory, English speakers used the Old English word "sidu," meaning custom or habit, which it displaced.

Synonyms: rehearsal, exercise, training, application

Antonyms: neglect, inactivity, disuse