practice

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Doing an activity repeatedly to get better at it.

   With enough practice, you will improve your piano playing.

2. 2
   verb

   To do an activity regularly to improve a skill.

   She practices the violin every evening.

3. 3
   noun

   A usual or customary way of doing something.

   It is their practice to give annual raises.

4. 4
   noun

   The work of a professional such as a doctor or lawyer.

   She runs a small medical practice in town.

The noun is from Middle English practice, practique, practyse, from the verb; also compare Medieval Latin prāctica. The verb is from Middle English practice, practise, practize, practyse, from Middle French pratiser, practiser, alteration of practiquer, from Medieval Latin prācticāre, from Late Latin prācticus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós). The spelling practice is attested once in Middle English for both the noun and the verb. The noun began to be assimilated in spelling to nouns in -ice; practise (noun) is now obsolete.

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