I. prac ‧ ti ‧ cal 1 S3 W2 /ˈpræktɪk ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ practical , practicalities, ↑ practicality ≠ ↑ impracticality , ↑ practicability ≠ ↑ impracticability ; adverb : ↑ practically ≠ ↑ impractically , ↑ practicably ≠ ↑ impracticably ; adjective : ↑ practicable ≠ ↑ impracticable , ↑ practical ≠ ↑ impractical ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: practicus , from Greek praktikos , from prassein 'to do' ]
1 . REAL relating to real situations and events rather than ideas, emotions etc ⇨ theoretical :
Candidates should have training and practical experience in basic electronics.
the practical problems of old age
They provide financial and practical help for disabled students.
a combination of theoretical and practical training
They haven’t thought about the practical consequences of the new regulations.
In practical terms, this means spending more time with each student.
2 . EFFECTIVE practical plans, methods etc are likely to succeed or be effective in a situation OPP impractical :
It doesn’t sound like a very practical solution.
a practical way of achieving greater efficiency
Unfortunately, there’s no practical alternative to driving.
a practical guide to buying and selling a house
3 . CLEAR THINKING a practical person is good at dealing with problems and making decisions based on what is possible and what will really work OPP impractical :
She’s a very practical person.
I was very shocked, but tried to be practical and think what to do.
4 . SUITABLE useful or suitable for a particular purpose or situation OPP impractical :
Skirts aren’t very practical in my kind of work.
5 . USING YOUR HANDS good at repairing or making things:
I’m not very practical – I can’t even change a light bulb.
6 . for/to all practical purposes used to say what the real effect of a situation is:
The time you spend on it doesn’t, for all practical purposes, affect the final result.
7 . practical certainty/disaster/sell-out etc something that is almost certain, almost a ↑ disaster etc:
Sampras looks a practical certainty to win Wimbledon this year.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ practical experience
You have to gain practical experience before you qualify as a solicitor.
▪ practical work
Archaeology students are required to do a certain amount of practical work.
▪ practical problems/difficulties
The local Social Services Department may be able to help with practical problems.
▪ practical help/support ( also practical assistance formal )
There will be trained people available to listen and to provide practical help.
▪ practical advice
The booklets offer clear, practical advice on running your business.
▪ practical use
Knowledge without understanding is of little practical use.
▪ practical considerations
There are a number of practical considerations that must be taken into account when choosing a car.
▪ practical implications
He was well aware of the practical implications of his theory.
■ phrases
▪ in practical terms
In practical terms, the experiment is going to be difficult.
II. practical 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ practical , practicalities, ↑ practicality ≠ ↑ impracticality , ↑ practicability ≠ ↑ impracticability ; adverb : ↑ practically ≠ ↑ impractically , ↑ practicably ≠ ↑ impracticably ; adjective : ↑ practicable ≠ ↑ impracticable , ↑ practical ≠ ↑ impractical ]
British English a lesson or examination in science, cooking etc in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it:
a chemistry practical
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THESAURUS
▪ test a set of questions or practical activities, which are intended to find out how much someone knows about a subject or skill:
I have a chemistry test tomorrow.
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Did Lauren pass her driving test?
▪ exam ( also examination formal ) an important test that you do at the end of a course of study or class or at the end of the school year:
He’s upstairs, revising for an exam.
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When do you get your exam results?
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There’s a written examination at the end of the course.
▪ quiz American English a quick test that a teacher gives to a class, usually to check that students are learning the things they should be learning:
We have a math quiz every Monday.
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a pop quiz (=a quiz given by a teacher without any warning)
▪ finals British English the last exams that you take at the end of a British university course:
During my finals I was revising till 3 o'clock in the morning most days.
▪ final American English an important test that you take at the end of a particular class in high school or college:
The English final was pretty hard.
▪ midterm American English an important test that you take in the middle of a term, covering what you have learned in a particular class in high school or college:
He did badly in the midterm.
▪ oral exam ( also oral British English ) an exam in which you answer questions by speaking, instead of writing, for example to test how good you are at speaking a foreign language:
Nicky got an A in her Spanish oral.
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You can either take an oral exam or do a 25 page essay.
▪ practical British English an exam that tests your ability to do or make things, rather than your ability to write about them:
The chemistry practical is on Monday.
▪ mocks/mock exams British English informal tests that you take as practice before the official examinations:
She did well in the mocks.
▪ paper British English a set of printed questions used as an examination in a particular subject, or the answers people write:
The history paper was really difficult.
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The papers are marked by the other teachers.