lecture

noun lec·ture \ ˈlek-chər , -shər \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of lecture

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

2 : a formal reproof

—

lectureship

play \ˈlek-chər-ˌship, -shər-\ noun

See lecture defined for English-language learners

See lecture defined for kids

Examples of lecture in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of lecture from the Web

Building a replica Wright Flyer lecture Bettye Wehrli will portray Orville and Wilbur Wright's sister, Katherine, during a talk about the Wright brothers' successes at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 9 Apr. 2018
But within Awesome Con is a series of lectures and panels that skew even more geeky than the rest of the conference: an educational series called Future Con that ties real-world concepts and cutting-edge scientific research in with the fiction.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "The Real Science Behind Your Favorite Nerd Culture at Awesome Con," 5 Apr. 2018
Those values will be on display on April 13, when the Institute will host the inaugural Global Sport Summit, a day of lectures and discusses about the future of sport around the world.

— katherine fitzgerald, azcentral, "Bridging sports and research: a look inside ASU's Global Sport Institute," 3 Apr. 2018
In her books, lectures and press interviews, Kor has held little back in discussing the horrors of Auschwitz.

— robert king, Indianapolis Star, "Eva Kor as we've never seen her: Film adds layers to story of Indiana Holocaust survivor," 2 Apr. 2018
Most of the events, but not all, will have traditional Yom HaShoah candle lighting ceremonies that are led by clergy and South Florida Holocaust survivors, in addition to a film and lectures and discussions on the Holocaust.

— marvin glassman, Jewish Journal, "Yom HaShoah commemorations planned throughout Palm Beach County," 30 Mar. 2018
Kathleen McLaughlin, an associate professor of religious studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, was at the University of Pune from 1977 to 1978 and went to hear Rajneesh lecture at his ashram on several occasions.

— win mccormack, The New Republic, "Outside the Limits of the Human Imagination," 27 Mar. 2018
In addition to all the visual art on display, there will be a series of live performances, lectures, and events, and a mentoring program for local kids focusing on skateboarding and creating art.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "This Groundbreaking Exhibit Might Be the Coolest Street Art Show Ever," 19 Mar. 2018
The house is still used occasionally by family and by the local historical society for lectures and events, such as the upcoming A Toast to Oxmoor Estate and Garden Luncheon at Oxmoor Estate.

— taylor m. riley, The Courier-Journal, "With an ornate library and lavish gardens, this Kentucky estate is the essence of opulence," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lecture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lecture

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

lecture

verb

Definition of lecture

lectured; lecturing play \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

play \ˈlek-chər-ər, ˈlek-shrər\ noun

See lecture defined for English-language learners

Examples of lecture in a Sentence

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 of lecture from the Web

Burke has erected a teepee and lectured on Native Americans for the past 34 years at Pioneers in the Park.

— mary jane brewer, cleveland.com, "John Burke treasures time portraying Medina County's earliest settlers: Local Legends," 6 Apr. 2018
Heim did, in fact, deliver his geology lecture five days after his fall.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "Black Ice, Near-Death, and Transcendence on I-91," 2 Apr. 2018
Spielman was sentenced to conditional discharge – a form of probation -- for a year, and he also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, 25 of which must including lecturing against hazing.

— clifford ward, chicagotribune.com, "Wheaton College football player accused of hazing teammate pleads guilty to misdemeanor; other charges dropped," 22 Mar. 2018
There also wasn’t a lecturing professor at the front of the room.

— noble ingram, The Christian Science Monitor, "Math makeover: Colleges swap lectures for active learning," 22 Mar. 2018
Mac never stops singing, storytelling, lecturing or emceeing, all the while beguiling and berating the audience.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "The brash, profane, funny, infuriating, high-flying first chapter of Taylor Mac's '24-Decade History'," 16 Mar. 2018
The network that paid Catt Sadler less than her male cohost and employed Ryan Seacrest tonight amid misconduct allegations is now lecturing us about #MeToo?

— lynsey eidell, Teen Vogue, "E! Tried to Talk About Time’s Up on the Oscars 2018 Red Carpet, and Twitter Was Not Here for It," 5 Mar. 2018
The presentation is a mixture of photos and videos with about three photos presented on a projection screen while LeGear lectures before each video clip.

— frank vaisvilas, Daily Southtown, "Palos Hills man to give history lesson at South Suburban College," 22 Mar. 2018
Robinson lectured Kobach about attempting gamesmanship in the case and reminded him of his ethical obligation to tell the truth during the contempt hearing.

— hunter woodall and bryan lowry, kansascity, "A day after contempt hearing, Kobach picks running mate who earlier was harsh critic | The Kansas City Star," 21 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of lecture

circa 1590

lecture Synonyms

Synonyms

bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid;

Near Antonyms

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction;

extol (also extoll), laud, praise;

abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate;

belittle, disparage, mock, put down;

ridicule, scoff, scorn;

Phrases

lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task;

LECTURE Defined for English Language Learners

lecture

noun

Definition of lecture for English Language Learners

: a talk or speech given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject
: a talk that criticizes someone's behavior in an angry or serious way