See Also: practical(dictionary)
Practical(medicine)
practical joke(dictionary)
practical 2, noun(dictionary)
practical 1, adjective(dictionary)
practical reason(encyclopedia)
Practical (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
practical nurse(dictionary)
practical units(medicine)
practical nurse(medicine)

practical (iou)



practical adjective & noun. M16.
[from PRACTIC adjective + -AL1 (see -ICAL).]
A. adjective.
Practising art or craft; crafty, scheming. Only in M16.
a. Of or pertaining to practice; consisting or shown in practice or action, as opp. to theory or speculation. L16.
U. Le Guin It has no practical applicationno relevance to real life.
b. Available or useful in practice; able to be used. Also, useful but dull. M17.
T. Hardy A practical skill in the various processes of farming. I. Murdoch A flying leap from the High Table..was not a very practical idea. P. V. White The house had been stained a practical brown.
c. Of a prop in a theatre or film set: able to be used as in real life; working, operable. M20.
Engaged in practising an occupation; practising, working. E17.
Inclined or suited to action as opp. to speculation etc.; capable of action. Also, skilled at manual tasks. E17.
J. M. Barrie Being a practical man he busies himself gathering firewood. R. C. Hutchinson Steve'll fix it up...He's quite practical when he's got to be.
That is such in practice or effect, though not theoretically or nominally; virtual. M17.
E. A. Freeman The great advantage of our practical republic over your avowed republic. F. O'Connor I have finished my novel for all practical purposes, but am still tinkering with it.
Special collocations: practical attitude an attitude concerned with material facts and actual events. practical criticism an analytical form of literary criticism. practical joke: see JOKE noun. practical joker: see JOKER noun. practical nurse (chiefly N. Amer.) a nurse who has completed a training course but is not registered. practical politics the reality of political life, sometimes implying lack of moral principle.
b. noun.
In pl. Practical matters; points of practice. M17-M18.
An examination, course, or lesson devoted to practice in a subject. M20.
practicalism noun devotion to practical affairs or methods; spec. (in Communism) overemphasis on practical matters leading to disregard of theory: M19.
practi'cality noun (a) the quality of being practical; (b) a practical matter or affair: E19.
practicalize verb trans. (rare) (a) make practical; (b) subject to practical jokes: E19.
practicalness noun E18.