[prac.tice] or prac.tise vb prac.ticed or prac.tised ; prac.tic.ing or prac.tis.ing [ME practisen, fr. MF practiser, fr. practique, pratique practice, n., fr. LL practice, fr. Gk praktike, fr. fem. of praktikos] vt (14c) 1 a: carry out, apply "~ what you preach" b: to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually "~ politeness" c: to be professionally engaged in "~ medicine"
2. a: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient "~ the act" b: to train by repeated exercises "~ pupils in penmanship" 3 obs: plot ~ vi 1: to do repeated exercises for proficiency
2: to pursue a profession actively 3 archaic: intrigue
4: to do something customarily
5: to take advantage of someone "he practised on their credulity with huge success --Times Lit. Supp." -- prac.tic.er n
[2]practice also practise n (15c) 1 a: actual performance or application "ready to carry out in ~ what they advocated in principle" b: a repeated or customary action "had this irritating ~" c: the usual way of doing something "local ~s" d: the form, manner, and order of conducting legal suits and prosecutions
2. a: systematic exercise for proficiency "~ makes perfect" b: the condition of being proficient through systematic exercise "get in ~" 3 a: the continuous exercise of a profession b: a professional business; esp: one constituting an incorporeal property syn see habit