lecture

American  

[lek-cher] / ˈlɛk tʃər /

noun

lectures plural

1. a speech read or delivered before an audience or class, especially for instruction or to set forth some subject.

   a lecture on Picasso's paintings.

   Synonyms:

   discourse, paper, talk, address

2. a speech of warning or reproof as to conduct; a long, tedious reprimand.

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verb (used without object)

lectures, present (3rd person singular) lectured, past participle, past lecturing present participle

1. to give a lecture or series of lectures.

   He spent the year lecturing to various student groups.

verb (used with object)

lectures, present (3rd person singular) lectured, past participle, past lecturing present participle

1. to deliver a lecture to or before; instruct by lectures.

   Synonyms:

   teach, address

2. to rebuke or reprimand at some length.

   He lectured the child regularly but with little effect.

   Synonyms:

   hector, admonish

lecture British  

/ ˈlɛktʃə /

noun

1. a discourse on a particular subject given or read to an audience

2. the text of such a discourse

3. a method of teaching by formal discourse

4. a lengthy reprimand or scolding

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verb

1. to give or read a lecture (to an audience or class)

2. (tr) to reprimand at length

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prelecture
  noun
• unlectured
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lectures
  plural

Participles

• lecturing
  present
• lectured
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• lecture
  simple
• lectures
  simple
• have lectured
  perfect
• has lectured
  perfect
• am lecturing
  progressive
• are lecturing
  progressive
• is lecturing
  progressive
• have been lecturing
  perfect progressive
• has been lecturing
  perfect progressive

Past

• lectured
  simple
• had lectured
  perfect
• was lecturing
  progressive
• were lecturing
  progressive
• had been lecturing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will lecture
  simple
• will have lectured
  perfect
• will be lecturing
  progressive
• will have been lecturing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of lecture

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin lēctūra “a reading”; see lection, -ure

Explanation

When your teacher stands up in front of you and teaches by talking about the latest chapter you've read or explaining how to do a new math problem - he is giving a lecture. A lecture is most often used to describe a method of teaching, particularly popular in college, where professors give organized talks as lessons to large groups of students. It is not quite as positive when children level the term at their parents — "Don't lecture me!" — for criticizing their clothes, their friends or their music. Lecture can also be used to describe any public talk, most often by an expert.

Example Sentences

The lack of role models for boys and young men was something Sir Gareth spoke of last year when he gave the BBC's annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

By calling his museum’s large theater the Moral Lecture Room, he hoped to distance his venue from the seedy theaters of the time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

Editor’s note: This is excerpted from the 2024 Reuters Memorial Lecture delivered March 4 at Oxford University.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2024

A lecture series on photography that she is establishing in India with the Hasselblad prize money will be called the Mona Ahmed Lecture.

From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2023

Lecture cds for learning sequences in music: A contemporary music learning theory.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• admonish
• chide
• preach
• scold