Word family noun practical practicalities practicality ≠ impracticality practicability ≠ impracticability adjective practicable ≠ impracticable practical ≠ impractical adverb practically ≠ impractically practicably ≠ impracticably
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpracticalprac‧ti‧cal1 /ˈpræktɪkəl/ ●●● S3 W2 adjective 1 realREAL/NOT IMAGINARY relating to real situations and events rather than ideas, emotions etc → theoretical Candidates should have training and practical experience in basic electronics. the practical problems of old age They provide financial and practical help for disabled students. a combination of theoretical and practical training They haven’t thought about the practical consequences of the new regulations. In practical terms, this means spending more time with each student.2 effectivePOSSIBLE practical plans, methods etc are likely to succeed or be effective in a situation OPP impractical It doesn’t sound like a very practical solution. a practical way of achieving greater efficiency Unfortunately, there’s no practical alternative to driving. a practical guide to buying and selling a house3 clear thinkingSENSIBLE a practical person is good at dealing with problems and making decisions based on what is possible and what will really work OPP impractical She’s a very practical person. I was very shocked, but tried to be practical and think what to do.4 suitableSUITABLE useful or suitable for a particular purpose or situation OPP impractical Skirts aren’t very practical in my kind of work.5 using your handsGOOD AT good at repairing or making things I’m not very practical – I can’t even change a light bulb. 6 → for/to all practical purposes7 → practical certainty/disaster/sell-out etcCOLLOCATIONSnounspractical experienceYou have to gain practical experience before you qualify as a solicitor.practical workArchaeology students are required to do a certain amount of practical work.practical problems/difficultiesThe local Social Services Department may be able to help with practical problems.practical help/support (also practical assistance formal)There will be trained people available to listen and to provide practical help.practical adviceThe booklets offer clear, practical advice on running your business.practical useKnowledge without understanding is of little practical use.practical considerationsThere are a number of practical considerations that must be taken into account when choosing a car.practical implicationsHe was well aware of the practical implications of his theory.phrasesin practical termsIn practical terms, the experiment is going to be difficult. Examples from the Corpus
practical• Liederman offers practical advice about coping with losing your job.• a type of floor covering that is simple, practical, and cheap• We have to be practical and not spend so much money.• At the same time, pupils are also exposed to one practical application of the microcomputer which will be relevant outside school.• There are practical assessments, orals and so on.• Modifications and additions will be needed to suit practical cases.• Voters make their choices based on practical considerations.• Automakers are trying to develop a practical electric car design.• The company specializes in making practical footwear for the leisure sports market.• This mapping is spiritual, but also practical, for people need to know the patterns of nature.• Babysitting coupons are a practical gift any parent will love.• He's really smart and really practical - he can fix anything.• Religion, combined with practical help, can be a powerful force in stabilizing a neighborhood and turning lives around.• You are often the first to join societies, to give practical help, to volunteer your practical skills all round.• Small economy cars are more practical if you live in the city.• Campbell considers himself a practical man.• Sometimes this shared understanding may lead to more practical solutions.• The consumption of ducks has increased in recent years, so it may be practical to define the various classes of ducks.In practical terms• I learnt a lot from this. In practical terms, no one can learn every orchestral instrument.practical guide• Feel free to use the cakes here as a source of inspiration as well as a practical guide.• For many it transformed the view of religion from a confused mystery into a practical guide for everyday life.• Birmingham Midshires has launched a debt counselling service in the form of a practical guide for home owners.• This is the how-to, practical guide that will help you avoid opportunistic detours and stay on track.• And a more detailed practical guide to involving users would have been good.• This is a practical guide to real-time programming, the programs provided having been tested and proved.• My colleagues on Fishkeeping Answers have produced a practical guide to tank safety in their November issue which is on sale now.• It's increasingly popular and this book's a practical guide to using the remedies.practical person• He is often a practical person.• She was, she believed, a practical person and a good friend.practicalpractical2 noun [countable] British EnglishSECSESEXAM/TEST a lesson or examination in science, cooking etc in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it a chemistry practical► see thesaurus at testExamples from the Corpus
practical• We've got our chemistry practical tomorrow morning.• For example, in electronics practicals there used to be a large number of boys who'd done electronics at school.• The number of hours spent in lectures, tutorials or practicals varies for each individual.• We got on with the practicals while the staff held a meeting to discuss how to control the epidemic.Origin practical (1500-1600) Late Latin practicus, from Greek praktikos, from prassein “to do” 