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practice

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Practice means to do something over and over, out of habit, because it has become an accepted custom, or on purpose to try to get better at the task. (verb)

An example of practice is when scientists publish in journals because that's what everyone in the industry does.
An example of practice is when you play the piano for 1/2 hour every day to become a better piano player.

Practice means to use an idea or actually put it into place. It also refers to the act of continually doing something in order to get better at it. (noun)

An example of practice is to make a habit of something.
An example of practice is the act of going to marching band exercises every day when you want the band to improve.

See practice in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb practiced, practicing

to do or engage in frequently or usually; make a habit or custom of: to practice thrift
to do repeatedly in order to learn or become proficient; exercise or drill oneself in: to practice batting
to put into practice; specif.,
1. to use one's knowledge of; work at, esp. as a profession: to practice law
2. to observe, or adhere to (beliefs, ideals, etc.): to practice one's religion
to teach or train through practice; exercise

intransitive verb

to do something repeatedly in order to learn or acquire proficiency; exercise or drill oneself: to practice on the organ
to put knowledge into practice; work at or follow a profession, as medicine, law, etc.
Archaic to scheme; intrigue

noun

the act, result, etc. of practicing; specif.,
1. a frequent or usual action; habit; usage: to make a practice of being early
2. a usual method or custom; convention: the practice of tipping for services
1. repeated mental or physical action for the purpose of learning or acquiring proficiency
2. a session of engaging in such action: cheerleading practice
3. the condition of being proficient or skillful as a result of this: to be out of practice
the doing of something as an application of knowledge: the practice of a theory
1. the exercise of a profession or occupation: the practice of law
2. a business based on this, often regarded as a legal property: to buy another's law practice
Archaic intrigue, trickery, a scheme, etc.
Law the various procedures involved in legal work, in and out of courts

Related Forms:

practicer noun

See practice in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(prăkˈtĭs)

verb prac·ticed, prac·tic·ing, prac·tic·es

verb, transitive

To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: practices courtesy in social situations.
To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step.
To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting.
To work at, especially as a profession: practice law.
To carry out in action; observe: practices a religion piously.
Obsolete To plot (something evil).

verb, intransitive

To do or perform something habitually or repeatedly.
To do something repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill.
To work at a profession.
Archaic To intrigue or plot.

noun

A habitual or customary action or way of doing something: makes a practice of being punctual.
a. Repeated performance of an activity in order to learn or perfect a skill: Practice will make you a good musician.
b. A session of preparation or performance undertaken to acquire or polish a skill: goes to piano practice weekly; scheduled a soccer practice for Saturday.
c. Archaic The skill so learned or perfected.
d. The condition of being skilled through repeated exercise: out of practice.
The act or process of doing something; performance or action: a theory that is difficult to put into practice.
Exercise of an occupation or profession: the practice of law.
The business of a professional person: an obstetrician with her own practice.
A habitual or customary action or act. Often used in the plural: That company engages in questionable business practices. Facial tattooing is a standard practice among certain peoples.
Law The methods of procedure used in a court of law.
Archaic
a. The act of tricking or scheming, especially with malicious intent.
b. A trick, scheme, or intrigue.