lecture

1 of 3

noun (1)

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər 

-shər

1

: a discourse given before an audience or class especially for instruction

2

: a formal reproof

lectureship

ˈlek-chər-ˌship 

-shər-

noun

lecture

2 of 3

verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ 

ˈlek-shriŋ

intransitive verb

: to deliver a lecture or a course of lectures

transitive verb

1

: to deliver a lecture to

2

: to reprove formally

lecturer

ˈlek-chər-ər 

ˈlek-shrər

noun

lecturer

3 of 3

noun (2)

lec·​tur·​er

plural -s

1

: one that lectures

specifically : one giving a lecture course in a college or university

the best lecturer on the campus

2

: a clergyman in the Church of England holding an ancient teaching and preaching office

to church, where our lecturer made a sorry silly sermon

—Samuel Pepys

3

a

: a member of the faculty of a British college or university who ranks below a professor

b

: a member of a college or university faculty having a temporary or part-time appointment

Synonyms of lecture

Verb

• scold
• reprimand
• blame
• criticize

Examples of lecture in a Sentence

Noun (1)

She's planning to give a series of lectures on modern art.

Several hundred people are expected to attend the lecture.

I came home late and got a lecture from my parents.

I gave her a lecture about doing better in school.

Verb

She lectures in art at the local college.

They lectured their children about the importance of honesty.

I lectured her about doing better in school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The national historic site is now a museum that hosts house and ghost tours, teatime in Franklin's former wine vault, lectures, concerts and storytelling events. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

In contrast, students at disadvantaged schools were more likely to spend much of the day in passive activities such as listening to lectures, practicing rote memorization or copying from the board. —Supreet Kaur, Scientific American, 10 June 2026

Verb

If and until that day comes, there will be fingerpointing, lecturing and posturing, all of which has flowed freely in the wake of the Sorsby decision. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

In September 1975, Applewhite visited a small town in Oregon to lecture its residents about how and why UFOs were visiting Earth. —Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, act of reading, from Late Latin lectura, from Latin lectus, past participle of legere

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing lecture

• curtain lecture
• lecture hall

Rhymes for lecture

• architecture
• conjecture
• prefecture

Kids Definition

lecture

1 of 2 noun

lec·​ture ˈlek-chər 

-shər

1

: a talk given before an audience or class especially for instruction

2

: reprimand entry 1, scolding

lecture

2 of 2 verb

lectured; lecturing ˈlek-chə-riŋ 

ˈlek-shriŋ

1

: to give a lecture or a series of lectures

2

: to instruct by lectures

3

: reprimand entry 2, scold

lecturer

-chər-ər 

-shrər

noun