practical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having or put to a practical purpose or use

   practical mathematics

2. 2
   adj

   concerned with actual use or practice

   My friend is a very practical person.

3. 3
   adj

   Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.

   Jack didn't get an engineering degree, but has practical knowledge of metalworking.

4. 4
   adj

   Being likely to be effective and applicable to a real situation; able to be put to use.

   Jack's knowledge has the practical benefit of giving us useful prototype parts.

5. 5
   adj

   Of a person, having skills or knowledge that are practical.

   All in all, Jack's a very practical chap.

6. 6
   adj

   Light fixtures used for set lighting and seen in the frame of a shot as part of the scenery.

   Practical lighting can help sell the illusion that the film is a real situation.

7. 7
   noun

   A prop that has some degree of functionality, rather than being a mere imitation.

   Practicals are used onstage as they would be used in real life. If the sound cue is to be from a radio or television, give qualities to the recording that will maintain the sense of the medium.

8. 8
   noun

   A light fixture used for set lighting and seen in the frame of a shot as part of the scenery.

   A naturalistic set is normally dressed with all the furnishings and props to be found in a real room. This includes electric light fittings which, when they actually light, are known as practicals.

Etymology

From Middle English practical, practicale, praktycall, from Medieval Latin practicālis.