Lecture

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈlÉ›k.tʃə/
• US IPA: /ˈlÉ›k.tʃɚ/

Origin

From Medieval Latin lectura ("reading"), from Latin lectus (""), past participle of legō ("I read, I recite").

Full definition of lecture

Noun

1. (a spoken lesson) A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 1, The stories did not seem to me to touch life. … They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.
2. During class today the professor delivered an interesting lecture.
3. A berating or scolding.
   I really don't want you to give me a lecture about my bad eating habits.
4. (obsolete) The act of reading.
   the lecture of Holy Scripture

Verb

1. (to teach)(ambitransitive) To teach (somebody) by giving a speech on a given topic.
   The professor lectured to two classes this morning.
2. (transitive) To preach, to berate, to scold.
• 2013-06-07, Gary Younge, Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution, The dispatches … also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies. Having lectured the Arab world about democracy for years, its collusion in suppressing freedom was undeniable as protesters were met by weaponry and tear gas made in the west, employed by a military trained by westerners.
3. Emily's father lectured her about the importance of being home before midnight.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• lecturer

Related terms

• analects
• lectern
• lection
• lesson