PR
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PR¹ /ˌpiː ˈɑːr/ n [U] abbrev. for 1 PUBLIC RELATIONS: an expert in PR 2 PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
PR² written abbrev. for PUERTO RICO
prac·ti·ca·ble /ˈpræktɪkəbl/ adj that can be successfully done or used, though not yet tried: Is it practicable to try to develop agriculture in desert regions? → opposite IMPRACTICABLE —bly adv —bility /ˌpræktɪkəbɪləti/ n [U]
People are beginning to use practical with the same meaning as practicable; a practical/practicable plan or suggestion is one that will work. Practicable is not used of people.
prac·ti·cal¹ /ˈpræktɪkəl/ adj 1 concerned with action, practice, or actual conditions and results, rather than with ideas: They've agreed to store the furniture; but we still have the practical problem of how to transport it over there. | She lacks practical experience. 2 apprec effective or convenient in actual use; suited to actual conditions: a practical uniform which is comfortable and doesn't show the dirt 3 usually apprec sensible; clever at doing things and dealing with difficulties: Be practical – we can't afford both a car and a holiday. | She's a very practical person. 4 practicable 5 for all practical purposes actually; in reality: He does so little work in the office that for all practical purposes it would make no difference if he didn't come. → opposite IMPRACTICAL; see also PRACTICALLY; see PRACTICABLE (USAGE) —ity /ˌpræktɪˈkæləti/ n [C;U] I'm not sure about the practicality of that suggestion. | Please stick to practicalities.
practical² n infml a PRACTICAL lesson, test, or examination, especially in science: a chemistry practical
practical 'joke n a trick played on someone to amuse others: She glued the teacher's book to the desk as a practical joke. → compare PRANK, TRICK
prac·ti·cally /ˈpræktɪkli/ adv 1 in a practical way 2 very nearly; almost: The holidays are practically over; there's only one day left.
Practically can be used in the same way as almost, but is less common. It cannot be used in exactly the same way as nearly. → see also ALMOST (USAGE)
prac·tice /ˈpræktɪs/ n 1 [C;U] (a) regular or repeated performance or exercise in order to learn to do something well: You need to get some more practice at reversing round corners before you take your driving test. | He's gone to football practice. | We have three choir practices a week. | The student teachers are now doing their teaching practice. | I haven't played tennis for years, so I'm really out of practice. (=I lack the practice needed to play well) | He took a couple of practice swings with his club before playing the shot. 2 [U] the actual doing of something (rather than the idea of it): It sounded like a good idea, but in practice it didn't work. | We've made our plans, and now we must put them into practice. (=actually carry them out) → compare THEORY 3 [C] the business of a doctor or lawyer: He has a large practice (=many people to look after) in London. → see also GROUP PRACTICE, PRIVATE PRACTICE 4 [C;U] a repeated, habitual, or standard act or course of action: unfair business practices | religious practices | I'll lend you the money this time, but I don't intend to make a practice of it. (=lend you money regularly) | It is the practice in English law to consider someone innocent until they have been proved guilty. (=that is what is done in English law) | It is now quite common practice for married women not to take their husband's second name. → see HABIT (USAGE) 5 practice makes perfect saying if you do something repeatedly, you will learn to do it perfectly
prac·tise BrE || -tice AmE /ˈpræktɪs/ v 1 [I;T] to do (an action) or perform on (especially a musical instrument) regularly or repeatedly in order to gain skill: You'll never learn to ride a bike if you don't practise. | She's been practising the same tune on the piano for nearly an hour. | You mustn't practise the drums while the baby is sleeping. | [+v-ing] You need to practise parking the car in a small space. 2 [I(as);T] to do (the work of a doctor, lawyer etc): She's passed her law examinations and is now practising (as a lawyer). | a practising doctor 3 [T] to act in accordance with (the ideas of one's religion): a practising Jew 4 [T] fml to make continuous use of (a course of action): Our income has decreased and now we must practise economy. (=must avoid spending money) 5 [T] fml to do; perform: to practise magic 6 practise what one preaches to do oneself what one advises others to do
prac·tised BrE || -ticed AmE /ˈpræktɪst/ adj 1 [(in)] (of a person) skilled through practice: a practised liar | thoroughly practised in the skills of politics | practised at avoiding difficult questions 2 [A] apprec gained by practice: The dancer moved with practised grace. 3 usually derog used so often that it is no longer natural: The hotel manager welcomed the guests with a practised smile.
prac·ti·tion·er /prækˈtɪʃənər/ n 1 a person who works in a profession, especially a doctor or lawyer: medical practitioners 2 sometimes derog a person who performs a skill or art: practitioners of magic → see also GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Pra·da /ˈprɑːdə/ trademark an Italian fashion company, based in Milan and known for its expensive clothes, shoes, and accessories (ACCESSORY). It is a DESIGNER LABEL.
Pra·do, the /ˈprɑːdəʊ/ the national Spanish MUSEUM of painting and SCULPTURE, in Madrid, which has many very important works of art by painters such as El Greco, Goya, Velásquez, and Rubens
prae·sid·i·um /prɪˈsɪdiəm, -ˈziː-/ n pl. -iums or -ia /-diə/ a PRESIDIUM
prae·tor·i·an guard /priːtɔriən ˈɡɑːdl-ˈɡɑːrd/ n [the] 1 the soldiers who defended the life of the Roman EMPEROR 2 a group of people who are supposed to defend a person in power against people who want to take power from them, but who are often more interested in their own aims
prag·mat·ic /præɡˈmætɪk/ adj usually apprec dealing with matters in the way that seems best under the actual conditions, rather than following a general principle; concerned with practical results —ally /kli/ adv
prag·mat·ics /præɡˈmætɪks/ n [U] tech (in the study of language) the study of the way words and phrases are used in conversation to express meanings, feelings, and ideas which are sometimes different from the actual meaning of the words used.
prag·ma·tis·m /ˈpræɡmətɪzəm/ n [U] usually apprec pragmatic ways of considering and dealing with things —tist n
Prague /prɑːɡ/ the capital city of the CZECH REPUBLIC, which is an important industrial centre. It is known for its many beautiful buildings and is visited by many tourists.
Prague 'spring, the a short time in 1968 when the Communist government of Czechoslovakia, under Alexander Dubcek, allowed people to have more freedom than before. The Soviet Union did not agree with these changes and invaded (INVADE) Czechoslovakia and forced the government to return to the way things were before.
prai·rie /ˈpreəri/ also prairies pl. — n. a wide treeless grassy plain, especially in N America → see colour photo on page A43
'prairie dog n a small animal with a short tail which is found in the prairies in N America. Prairie dogs live in large groups under the ground, and are often seen standing on their back legs looking for danger.
'prairie ,oyster n infml 1 a type of drink made with raw egg which is supposed to be a cure for a HANGOVER 2 AmE also Rocky Mountain oyster — the TESTICLES of a CALF (=male young of a cow), eaten as food
,prairie 'schooner n AmE infml a small COVERED WAGON
praise¹ /preɪz/ v [T(for)] 1 to speak of with admiration and approval: The doctor praised her for her courage. 2 fml or lit to offer thanks and honour to (God), especially by singing religious songs in a church service 3 praise someone/something to the skies to express very strong praise for someone or something
praise² n [U] 1 expression of admiration: The new film received high praise from everyone. | All sides of the community joined together in praise of the police's prompt action. 2 fml or lit worship: Let us give praise to God. 3 praise be old-fash thank God: At last I've found you, praise be! → see also damn with faint praise (DAMN)
prais·es /ˈpreɪzɪz/ n [P(of)] words that praise someone or something: Everyone's singing the praises of (=praising) his new film, but I didn't think much of it.