lecture

1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings the frustrated manager lectured the waitstaff about its poor level of service Synonyms baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), scold, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraidRelated Words admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; 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, scornNear Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

2 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject a physician who has lectured before countless women's groups on the importance of self-examination in the early detection of breast cancer Synonyms declaim, descant, discourse, expatiate, harangue, talk, orate, speakRelated Words recite, soliloquize; dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize; mouth, spout; filibuster