lecture

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lecture [noun]

a formal talk on a serious subject given to a group of people, especially students

US /ˈlek.tʃɚ/ 
UK /ˈlek.tʃər/ 
Example: 

We went to a lecture on Italian art.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

lecture

 noun
a talk to a group of people to teach them about something:
She gave a fascinating lecture on Spanish history.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

lecture

I. lecture1 S2 W3 /ˈlektʃə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑lecture, ↑lecturer, ↑lectureship; verb: ↑lecture]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Late Latin; Origin: lectura 'act of reading', from Latin legere 'to read']
1. a long talk on a particular subject that someone gives to a group of people, especially to students in a university ⇨ speech
lecture on
He regularly gives lectures on modern French literature.
2. an act of criticizing someone or warning them about something in a long serious talk, in a way that they think is unfair or unnecessary
lecture on/about
My father caught me and gave me a long lecture about the dangers of drink.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
give a lecture (also deliver a lecture formal) She gave a fascinating lecture on crime in the 1800s. | He delivered the lecture at the London School of Economics.
do a lecture informal: He’s doing a lecture on modern poetry.
go to a lecture (also attend a lecture formal) Have you been to any of Professor MacPherson’s lectures? | I recently attended a lecture by a noted historian.
listen to a lecture Most students spend about a quarter of their time listening to lectures.
■ lecture + NOUN
a lecture hall/room (also a lecture theatre British English) The lecture hall was packed.
lecture notes Can I borrow your lecture notes?
a lecture tour (=a trip that someone takes to many different places to give a lecture) He’s on a lecture tour of the US.
■ phrases
a series of lectures (also a course of lectures British English) a series of lectures on the history of art
■ adjectives
a public lecture (=a lecture which the general public are allowed to go to) He’s going to deliver a public lecture on politics in the Middle East.
an illustrated lecture (=a lecture with pictures such as slides) Mrs Robinson gave a fascinating illustrated lecture on Spanish history.
• • •
THESAURUS
speech a talk, especially a formal one about a particular subject, given to a group of people: The bridegroom usually makes a speech after the wedding. | In her speech, she proposed major changes to the welfare system. | the opening speech of the conference
address formal a speech that a very important person gives to a large group of people: the President's address to the nation | He was surrounded by security officers as he made his address.
talk an occasion when someone speaks to a group of people giving them information about a particular subject or about their experiences: I went to an interesting talk on the wildlife of Antarctica. | He's been asked to give a talk about his trip to India.
lecture a talk, especially on an ↑academic subject and given to students in a university: a lecture on 17th century French literature | Professor Black is giving the lecture.
presentation a talk in which you describe or explain a new product or idea, especially one you give for your company: I had to give a presentation to the board of directors. | He's making a presentation to the management of a well-known manufacturing company.
sermon a talk given by a priest or a religious leader: The vicar preached a sermon about the need for forgiveness.
statement a spoken or written announcement that someone makes in public, often to ↑journalists: The minister issued a short statement in which he said he had no plans to resign.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lecture

c·ture AW [lecture lectures lectured lecturing] noun, verb   [ˈlektʃə(r)]    [ˈlektʃər] 

 

noun ~ (to sb) (on/about sth)
1. a talk that is given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject, often as part of a university or college course
to deliver/give a lecture to first-year students
to attend a series of lectures on Jane Austen

• a lecture room/hall

2. a long angry talk that sb gives to one person or a group of people because they have done sth wrong
I know I should stop smoking— don't give me a lecture about it.  
Word 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.  
Thesaurus:
lecture noun C
Dr Lee gave a lecture on public art.
talkspeechaddresssermon
a/an inaugural/farewell/keynote lecture/speech/address
an informal lecture/talk
give/deliver a/an lecture/talk/speech/address/sermon
write/prepare a/an lecture/talk/speech/address/sermon 
Collocations:
Education
Learning
acquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(BrE) (some) qualifications
receive/provide sb with training/tuition
develop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially BrE) course/(NAmE) program/syllabus
give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
School
go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
be in the first, second, etc. (NAmE) grade/(especially BrE) year (at school)
study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
(BrE) leave/finish/drop out of/ (NAmE) quit school
(NAmE) graduate high school/college
Problems at school
be the victim/target of bullying
(BrE) play truant from/ (both BrE, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
(both especially NAmE) skip/cut class/school
(BrE) cheat in/(NAmE) cheat on an exam/a test
get/be given a detention (for doing sth)
be expelled from/be suspended from school
Work and exams
do your homework/(BrE) revision/a project on sth
work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(NAmE) a paper
finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/coursework
hand in/ (NAmE) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
study/prepare/ (BrE) revise/ (NAmE) review/ (NAmE, informal) cram for a test/an exam
take/ (both BrE) do/sit a test/an exam
(especially BrE) mark/ (especially NAmE) grade homework/a test
(BrE) do well in/ (NAmE) do well on/ (informal, especially NAmE) ace a test/an exam
pass/fail/ (informal, especially NAmE) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
University
apply to/get into/go to/start college/(BrE) university
leave/graduate from law school/college/(BrE) university (with a degree in computer science)
study for/take/ (BrE) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics
(both NAmE) major/minor in biology/philosophy
earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a PhD in economics 
Synonyms:
speech
lecture address talk sermon
These are all words for a talk given to an audience.
speecha formal talk given to an audience: Several people made speeches at the wedding.
lecturea talk given to a group of people to tell them about a particular subject, often as part of a university or college course: a lecture on the Roman army a course/series of lectures
addressa formal speech given to an audience: a televised presidential address
speech or address?
A speech can be given on a public or private occasion; an address is always public: He gave an address at the wedding.
talka fairly informal session in which sb tells a group of people about a subject: She gave an interesting talk on her visit to China.
sermona talk on a moral or religious subject, usually given by a religious leader during a service: to preach a sermon
a long/short speech/lecture/address/talk/sermon
a keynote speech/lecture/address
to write/prepare/give/deliver/hear a(n) speech/lecture/address/talk/sermon
to attend/go to a lecture/talk 
Example Bank:
I don't need any lectures from you on responsibility.
I don't take lectures from anyone on how to behave.
I got a lecture from Dad about coming home on time.
I have a lecture at nine tomorrow.
Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.
She gave me a stern lecture on ingratitude.
She referred to Professor Jones's work in her lecture on Shakespeare's imagery.
She wasn't at the lecture.
The fire alarm went during his lecture.
The society is putting on a series of lectures on the subject next term.
a familiar figure on the international lecture circuit
a lecture by Professor Snow
a lecture entitled ‘How to Prevent Food Poisoning’
a lecture to the Darwin Society
He gave a very interesting and informative lecture on the Roman army.
I know I should stop smoking— don't give me a lecture about it.
• a lecture room/hall

• a lecture theatre

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lecture / ˈlek.tʃə r /   / -tʃɚ / noun [ C ]

B1 a formal talk on a serious subject given to a group of people, especially students:

We went to a lecture on Italian art.

Who's giving the lecture this afternoon?

→  Compare seminar

an angry or serious talk given to someone in order to criticize their behaviour:

My dad gave me a lecture on the evils of alcohol last night.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

[le̱ktʃə(r)]
 ♦♦♦
 lectures, lecturing, lectured

 1) N-COUNT A lecture is a talk someone gives in order to teach people about a particular subject, usually at a university or college.
  ...a series of lectures by Professor Eric Robinson...
  In his lecture Riemann covered an enormous variety of topics.
 2) VERB If you lecture on a particular subject, you give a lecture or a series of lectures about it.
  [V on/in n] She then invited him to Atlanta to lecture on the history of art...
  She has danced, choreographed, lectured and taught all over the world...
  [V n on n] Wendy Rigby was recently invited to lecture a group of doctors on the benefits of aromatherapy.
 3) VERB If someone lectures you about something, they criticize you or tell you how they think you should behave.
  [V n about/on n] He used to lecture me about getting too much sun...
  [V n] Chuck would lecture me, telling me to get a haircut...
  She was no longer interrogating but lecturing. [Also V n to-inf]
 N-COUNT
 Lecture is also a noun. Our captain gave us a stern lecture on safety.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

1lec·ture /ˈlɛkʧɚ/ noun, pl -tures [count]
1 : a talk or speech given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject
• a lecture about/on politics
• She's planning to give/deliver a series of lectures on modern art.
• Several hundred people are expected to attend the lecture.
2 : a talk that criticizes someone's behavior in an angry or serious way
• I came home late and got a lecture from my parents.
• I gave her a lecture about doing better in school.