Prăc'ti·cal, a.
a. [Lat. practicus, Gr. πρακτικός, fit for doing or performing, practical, active, from πράσσειν, to do, work, effect; O. Fr. practique, N. Fr. pratique, Pr. practic, Sp. práctico, Pg. & It. practico.]
Sense 1. Pertaining to practice.
Sense 2. Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from ideal, or theoretical. “Man’s practical understanding.” South. “For all practical purposes.” Macaulay.
Sense 3. Evincing practice or skill; ready to apply knowledge to some useful end; as, a practical man.
Sense 4. Derived from practice; as, practical skill.
Practical joke, a joke put in practice; a joke the fun of which consists in something that is done; often a trick played upon a person, by which a laugh is raised against him, or an attempt is made to put him in a ridiculous position.