7 PHRASE If something such as a procedure is normal practice or standard practice , it is the usual thing that is done in a particular situation. □ It is normal practice not to reveal details of a patient's condition. □ The transcript is full of codewords, which is standard practice in any army.
8 PHRASE If you are out of practice at doing something, you have not had much experience of it recently, although you used to do it a lot or be quite good at it. □ 'How's your German?'—'Not bad, but I'm out of practice.'
9 PHRASE If you put a belief or method into practice , you behave or act in accordance with it. □ Now that he is back, the prime minister has another chance to put his new ideas into practice. COLLOCATIONS practice NOUN
1
noun + practice : accounting, business, management, work
adjective + practice : common, normal, standard; questionable, unfair
practice + be + adjective : widespread
verb + practice : adopt, develop; end, stop
4
noun + practice : GP, law
adjective + practice : architectural, dental, legal, medical; private SYNONYMS practice NOUN 1
custom: The custom of tipping has never taken root in the minicab world.
way: Direct confrontation was not his way.
tradition: …the rich traditions of Afro-Cuban music, and dance.
habit: He has an endearing habit of licking his lips when he's nervous.
prac|tise /præ kt I s/ (practises , practising , practised ) in AM, use practice 1 VERB If you practise something, you keep doing it regularly in order to be able to do it better. □ [V n] Lauren practises the piano every day. □ [V ] When she wanted to get something right, she would practise and practise and practise.
2 → see also practised
3 VERB When people practise something such as a custom, craft, or religion, they take part in the activities associated with it. □ [V n] …countries which practise multi-party politics. □ [V n] Acupuncture was practised in China as long ago as the third millennium BC. ● prac|tis|ing ADJ [ADJ n] □ The church insisted all employees must be practising Christians.
4 VERB [usu passive] If something cruel is regularly done to people, you can say that it is practised on them. □ [be V -ed + on ] There are consistent reports of electrical torture being practised on inmates.
5 VERB Someone who practises medicine or law works as a doctor or a lawyer. □ [V n] In Belgium only qualified doctors may practise alternative medicine. □ [V + as ] He practised as a lawyer there until his retirement. □ [V ] The ways in which solicitors practise are varied. □ [V -ing] An art historian and collector, he was also a practising architect.
6 to practise what you preach → see preach
prac|tised /præ kt I st/ in AM, use practiced ADJ Someone who is practised at doing something is good at it because they have had experience and have developed their skill at it. □ …a practised and experienced surgeon.
prac|ti|tion|er /prækt I ʃənə r / (practitioners )
1 N‑COUNT Doctors are sometimes referred to as practitioners or medical practitioners . [FORMAL ]
2 → see also GP
prae|to|rian guard /pr I tɔː riən gɑː r d/ N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can use praetorian guard to refer to a group of people who are close associates and loyal supporters of someone important. [FORMAL ]
prag|mat|ic /prægmæ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A pragmatic way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones. A pragmatic person deals with things in a practical way. □ …a pragmatic approach to the problems faced by Latin America. ● prag|mati|cal|ly /prægmæ t I kli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, ADV adj] □ 'I can't ever see us doing anything else,' states Brian pragmatically.
prag|mat|ics /prægmæ t I ks/ N‑SING Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings and effects which come from the use of language in particular situations.
prag|ma|tism /præ gmət I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Pragmatism means thinking of or dealing with problems in a practical way, rather than by using theory or abstract principles. [FORMAL ] □ She had a reputation for clear thinking and pragmatism. ● prag|ma|tist (pragmatists ) N‑COUNT □ He is a political pragmatist, not an idealist.
prai|rie /preə ri/ (prairies ) N‑VAR A prairie is a large area of flat, grassy land in North America. Prairies have very few trees.
prai |rie dog (prairie dogs ) N‑COUNT A prairie dog is a type of small furry animal that lives underground in the prairies of North America.
praise ◆◇◇ /pre I z/ (praises , praising , praised )
1 VERB If you praise someone or something, you express approval for their achievements or qualities. □ [V n + for ] The American president praised Turkey for its courage. □ [V n] He praised the excellent work of the U.N. weapons inspectors.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Praise is what you say or write about someone when you are praising them. □ [+ for ] All the ladies are full of praise for the staff and service they received. □ That is high praise indeed.
3 VERB If you praise God, you express your respect, honour, and thanks to God. □ [V n] She asked the church to praise God.