noun
lecture
LEHK-chuh
noun
1
A talk given to teach an audience about a subject.
"The professor's lecture on Roman history ran an hour over."
"Students packed the hall for the guest lecture on climate policy."
2
A long, stern talking-to meant to correct someone's behaviour.
"Dad gave us a lecture about staying out too late."
verb
1
To give a formal talk teaching a subject.
"She lectures on marine biology at the university."
2
To scold or reprimand someone at length.
"Stop lecturing me — I already know I was wrong."
How to Use Lecture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal educational talk, or — informally — a scolding.
Common pairings
attend a lecture
give someone a lecture
lecture hall
Word Forms
lectured past tense, lectures plural, lectures singular
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The professor's _____ on Roman history ran an hour over.
Etymology
From Latin lectura, "a reading," from legere, "to read or recite" — lectures originally meant someone reading a text aloud to students.