lecture
/ˈlɛk.t͡ʃə/ noun, verb
Forms lectures lecturing lectured
- noun A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group. “During class today the professor delivered an interesting lecture.”
- noun (by extension) A class that primarily consists of a (weekly or other regularly held) lecture (as in sense 1), usually at college or university. “We will not have lecture tomorrow.”
- noun A berating or scolding, especially if lengthy, formal or given in a stern or angry manner. “I really don't want you to give me a lecture about my bad eating habits.”
- noun (obsolete) The act of reading. “the lecture of Holy Scripture”
- verb (ambitransitive) To teach (somebody) by giving a speech on a given topic. “The professor lectured to two classes this morning.”
- verb (transitive) To preach, to berate, to scold. “Emily's father lectured her about the importance of being home before midnight.”
Synonyms
dressing down going over sermon berating browbeating chiding chockling correption dirdum down the banks jawing objurgation rixation scolding throughgoing public lecture talk speech talking to lecturing call on the carpet take to task rebuke rag trounce reproof reprimand jaw dress down call down
Etymology
From Middle English lecture, lectour, letture, letteur, lettur, lectury, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin lectura (“reading”), from Latin lectus, past participle of legō (“to read, recite”). Doublet of lector.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. [Obs.]
- noun A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.
- verb To read or deliver a lecture to.
- verb To reprove formally and with authority.
Etymology [F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to read. See Legend.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lecture”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details