COP definition

http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/cop/definitions.shtml

From this article, we can get some definition of community of practice. When we first know a topic, we have to know what the definition of this topic is, we can start our research. Because of this reason, I search some materials about the definitions of community of practice.
First, Bonding by exposure to common problems.
There are many shades of definition of this concept, but the author define it as "a group of professionals, informally bound to one another through exposure to a common class of problems, common pursuit of solutions, and thereby themselves embodying a store of knowledge."
Secondly, Common practices and language
"Communities of Practice" is a phrase coined by researchers who studied the ways in which people naturally work and play together. In essence, communities of practice are groups of people who share similar goals and interests. In pursuit of these goals and interests, they employ common practices, work with the same tools and express themselves in a common language. Through such common activity, they come to hold similar beliefs and value systems.
Thirdly, Commons sense of purpose
There are many communities of practice within a single company, and most people belong to more than one of them. Most of us belong to more than one, and not just on the job: the management team; the engineers, some in your company and some not.
Fourthly, Members evolve more creative practice
A community of practice is "a diverse group of people engaged in real work over a significant period of time during which they build things, solve problems, learn and invent...in short, they evolve a practice that is highly skilled and highly creative."
Last but not least, from water coolers to commitment. More than a "community of learners," a community of practice is also a "community that learns." Not merely peers exchanging ideas around the water cooler, sharing and benefitting from each other's expertise, but colleagues committed to jointly develop better practices.