Word Study
[2x]
: Pâ Pæ Pè Pé Pœ P- P. P/ P< Pa Pb Pc Pd Pe Pf Ph Pi Pj Pk Pl Pm Pn Po Pp Pr Ps Pt Pu Pv Pw Px Py
practical
CIDE DICTIONARY
practical, a. [L. practicus active, Gr. fit for doing or performing, practical, active, fr. to do, work, effect: cf. F. pratique, formerly also practique. Cf. Pragmatic, Practice.].
- Of or pertaining to practice or action. [1913 Webster]
- Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from
ideal ortheoretical ; as, practical chemistry. [1913 Webster] - Evincing practice or skill; capable of applying knowledge to some useful end; as, a practical man; a practical mind. [1913 Webster]
- Derived from practice; as, practical skill. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
practical, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 of or concerned with practice or use rather than theory.
2 suited to use or action; designed mainly to fulfil a function (practical shoes).
3 (of a person) inclined to action rather than speculation; able to make things function well.
4 a that is such in effect though not nominally (for all practical purposes). b virtual (in practical control).
5 feasible; concerned with what is actually possible (practical politics).
--n. a practical examination or lesson.
--adj.
1 of or concerned with practice or use rather than theory.
2 suited to use or action; designed mainly to fulfil a function (practical shoes).
3 (of a person) inclined to action rather than speculation; able to make things function well.
4 a that is such in effect though not nominally (for all practical purposes). b virtual (in practical control).
5 feasible; concerned with what is actually possible (practical politics).
--n. a practical examination or lesson.
Idiom
practical joke a humorous trick played on a person. practical joker a person who plays practical jokes.
Derivative
practicality n. (pl. -ies). practicalness n.
Etymology
earlier practic f. obs. F practique or LL practicus f. Gk praktikos f. prasso do, act
THESAURUS
practical
achievable, actable, adaptable, advantageous, appliable, applicable, applied, appropriate, attainable, balanced, banausic, beneficial, breadwinning, businesslike, commercial, commodious, commonsense, compassable, compliant, constructive, convenient, cool, coolheaded, doable, down-to-earth, ductile, earthy, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, empirical, employable, everyday, expedient, exploitable, feasible, field, fitting, flexible, foolproof, functional, go, good for, handy, hard, hard-boiled, hard-nosed, hardheaded, helpful, hoaxproof, judicious, levelheaded, logical, malleable, manageable, maneuverable, manipulable, manipulatable, materialistic, matter-of-fact, moneymaking, mundane, negotiable, not born yesterday, of general utility, of help, of service, of use, old, old-time, operable, operatable, operational, operative, ordinary, overcomable, performable, personal, philosophical, pliable, pliant, positivistic, practicable, practical-minded, practiced, pragmatic, pragmatical, proper, prosaic, rational, realist, realistic, realizable, reasonable, reusable, sane, scientific, scientistic, seasoned, secular, sensible, serviceable, skilled, sober, sober-minded, sophisticated, sound, sound-thinking, straight-thinking, superable, surmountable, tough-minded, tractable, uncullible, undeceivable, undeludable, undupable, unfoolable, ungullible, unhoaxable, unideal, unidealistic, unromantic, unseduceable, unsentimental, untroublesome, usable, useable, useful, utilitarian, utilizable, versed, vet, veteran, viable, virtual, well-balanced, wieldable, wieldy, wise, workable, workaday, workday, working, worldly, yieldingROGET THESAURUS
practical
Conduct
N conduct, behavior, deportment, comportment, carriage, maintien, demeanor, guise, bearing, manner, observance, dealing, transaction, business, tactics, game, game plan, policy, polity, generalship, statesmanship, seamanship, strategy, strategics, plan, management, husbandry, housekeeping, housewifery, stewardship, menage, regime, economy, economics, political economy, government, execution, manipulation, treatment, campaign, career, life, course, walk, race, record, course of conduct, line of conduct, line of action, line of proceeding, role, process, ways, practice, procedure, modus operandi, MO, method of operating, method, path, conducting, strategical, businesslike, practical, executive.Agency
N agency, operation, force, working, strain, function, office, maintenance, exercise, work, swing, play, interworking, interaction, procurement, causation, instrumentality, influence, action, modus operandi, quickening power, maintaining power, sustaining power, home stroke, operative, efficient, efficacious, practical, effectual, at work, on foot, acting, in operation, in force, in action, in play, in exercise, acted upon, wrought upon, by the agency of through, by means of, I myself must mix with action lest I wither by des.For further exploring for "practical" in Webster Dictionary Online