practical. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

practical

SYLLABICATION:	prac·ti·cal
PRONUNCIATION:	prkt-kl
ADJECTIVE:	1. Of, relating to, governed by, or acquired through practice or action, rather than theory, speculation, or ideals: gained practical experience of sailing as a deck hand. 2. Manifested in or involving practice: practical applications of calculus. 3. Actually engaged in a specified occupation or a certain kind of work; practicing. 4. Capable of being used or put into effect; useful: practical knowledge of Japanese. See Usage Note at practicable. 5. Intended to serve a purpose without elaboration: practical low-heeled shoes. 6. Concerned with the production or operation of something useful: Woodworking is a practical art. 7. Level-headed, efficient, and unspeculative. 8. Being actually so in almost every respect; virtual: a practical disaster.
ETYMOLOGY:	Middle English practicale, from Medieval Latin prcticlis, from prctica, practice. See practicable.
OTHER FORMS:	practi·cali·ty (-kl-t) , practi·cal·ness —NOUN


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.