lecture
/ˈlɛktʃə
/noun
1An educational talk to an audience, especially one of students in a university: in each course there are supporting lectures and tutorials [as modifier]: a lecture hall...
- He gave a wonderful illustrated lecture on how to video a wedding.
- His employer recognised his talent and encouraged him to attend public lectures on science.
- For a moment, it feels like I'm back in a university lecture theatre.
Synonyms
speech, talk, address, discourse, disquisition, presentation, oration, lesson, recitation, monologue, sermon, homily
2A long serious speech, especially one given as a scolding or reprimand: the usual lecture on table manners...
- For my own part I had only been on the end of a few less serious lectures and not once had she hit me.
- But I knew if I didn't get back in Rebecca's room by the time my dad woke up - or at least out of my bed - I would probably be in for a serious lecture.
- If mom heard it, she could expect a serious lecture on ‘not calling your eldest sister nicknames’.
Synonyms
scolding, chiding, reprimand, rebuke, reproof, reproach, remonstration, upbraiding, berating, castigation, tirade, diatribe, harangue, admonition, admonishment, lambasting, obloquy
informal dressing-down, telling-off, talking-to, tongue-lashing
British informal rocket, wigging
verb
1 [no object] Deliver an educational lecture or lectures: he was lecturing at the University of Birmingham...
- Heidegger continued to write and lecture extensively on this subject for the following eight years.
- He is considered a pioneer in the field of conservation biology and has written and lectured widely on the subject.
- Hilder taught at Goldsmiths' from 1929 to 1941 and also lectured at other colleges.
Synonyms
give a lecture, give a talk, talk, give a speech, make a speech, speak, give an address, discourse, expound, hold forth, declaim, expatiate, give a sermon, sermonize, pontificate
informal speechify, preachify, spout, jaw, sound off, spiel, drone on
1.1 [with object] Give a lecture to (a class or other audience): he was lecturing future generations of health-service professionals...
- I just can't do it this weekend as I am lecturing a class on Tuesday and I'm not prepared yet.
- Most of these classes are lectured by one individual.
- He wanders into pointless asides, conspiracy theories and even presumes to lecture the audience about its loyalty to Canada.
Synonyms
teach, tutor in, instruct in, give instruction in, give lessons in
2 [with object] Talk seriously or reprovingly to (someone): I do not wish to be lectured about smoking...
- Was he seriously going to lecture me on how much I had to drink?
- We do not know how much he made lecturing the rest of us heathens on morality.
- Why on earth should we presume to lecture the rest of the world on conflict resolution?
Synonyms
scold, chide, reprimand, rebuke, reprove, reproach, remonstrate with, upbraid, berate, castigate, chastise, admonish, lambaste, nag, haul over the coals, take to task, read someone the Riot Act
informal give someone a dressing-down, give someone a talking-to, tell off
British informal tick off, carpet
North American informal bawl out
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'reading, a text to read'): from Old French, or from medieval Latin lectura, from Latin lect- 'read, chosen', from the verb legere.
Rhymes
- in the first place
- in the flesh
- in the fullness of time
- in the gift of
- in the grip of
- in the gun
- in the heat of the moment
- in the heel of the hunt
- in the hole
- in the hope of
- in the interests (or interest) of something
- in the land of the living
- in the lap of luxury
- in the lap of the gods
- in the last resort
- in the light of (or in light of)
- in the line of duty
- in the long run
- in the main
- in the making
- in the mass
- in the matter of
- in the melting pot
- backscratcher
- backscratching