lecture
a formal talk on a serious subject given to a group of people, especially students
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. lec‧ture1 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.
talk • • speech • • address • • sermon •
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.
speech • a formal talk given to an audience: ▪ Several people made speeches at the wedding.
lecture • a 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
address • a 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.
talk • a fairly informal session in which sb tells a group of people about a subject: ▪ She gave an interesting talk on her visit to China.
sermon • a 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 COBUILD 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.
