lesson

[ les-uhn ]
See synonyms for: lessonlessonedlessoninglessons on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a section into which a course of study is divided, especially a single, continuous session of formal instruction in a subject: The manual was broken down into 50 lessons.

  2. a part of a book, an exercise, etc., that is assigned to a student for study: The lesson for today is on page 22. He worked assiduously at his music lesson.

  1. something to be learned or studied: the lessons of the past.

  2. a useful piece of practical wisdom acquired by experience or study: That accident certainly taught him a lesson in careful driving.

  3. something from which a person learns or should learn; an instructive example: Her faith should serve as a lesson to all of us.

  4. a reproof or punishment intended to teach one better ways.

  5. a portion of Scripture or other sacred writing read or appointed to be read at a divine service; lection; pericope.

verb (used with object)
  1. to teach; instruct; give a lesson to.

  2. to admonish or reprove.

Origin of lesson

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lesso(u)n, from Old French leçon, from Latin lēctiōn-, stem of lēctiō “a reading”; see lection

Words that may be confused with lesson

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lesson in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lesson

lesson

/ (ˈlɛsən) /


noun
    • a unit, or single period of instruction in a subject; class: an hour-long music lesson

    • the content of such a unit

  1. material assigned for individual study

  1. something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned; example

  2. the principles, knowledge, etc, gained

  3. a reprimand or punishment intended to correct

  4. a portion of Scripture appointed to be read at divine service

verb
  1. (tr) rare to censure or punish

Origin of lesson

1
C13: from Old French leçon, from Latin lēctiō, from legere to read

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with lesson

lesson

see learn one's lesson; teach a lesson.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.