lecture
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a formal talk given to a group of people to teach them about a subject, especially at a university.
n.a formal discourse delivered to an audience for instructional purposes, typically within a higher education context.
Simple“The professor gave an interesting lecture on the history of art.”
In context“The visiting professor delivered a guest lecture on quantum mechanics, attracting students from several different departments.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a long, serious talk given to someone to criticize their behavior.
n.a lengthy and formal reprimand or scolding, often delivered in a stern or moralizing tone.
Simple“My father gave me a long lecture about coming home late.”
In context“After the window was broken, the headteacher gave the students a stern lecture on the importance of respecting school property.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to give a formal talk to a group of people to teach them a subject.
v.to deliver an educational discourse to a group; often used intransitively to describe a professional role.
Simple“She lectures at the local college every Tuesday morning.”
In context“He has spent the last decade lecturing on international law at various prestigious institutions across Europe.”
UsageOften used with 'on' to indicate the subject matter.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to talk to someone in an angry or serious way because they have done something wrong.
v.to reprimand or criticize someone at length, often in a way that feels superior or annoying.
Simple“I don't need you to lecture me about my diet.”
In context“The manager spent twenty minutes lecturing the staff on punctuality instead of addressing the actual technical issues.”
Antonyms
lecture vs conference — A lecture is a single educational talk given by one person, while a conference is a large multi-day event featuring many speakers and sessions.
lecture vs lesson — A lecture is a formal presentation delivered to an audience, while a lesson is a structured period of interactive instruction.
From Middle English lecture, lectour, letture, letteur, lettur, lectury, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin lectura (“reading”), from Latin lectus, past participle of legō (“to read, recite”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.