lecture Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a speech that is open to the public
    talk; public lecture.
    • he attended a lecture on telecommunications
  2. noun a lengthy rebuke
    speech; talking to.
    • a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline
    • the teacher gave him a talking to
  3. noun teaching by giving a discourse on some subject (typically to a class)
    lecturing.
  4. verb deliver a lecture or talk
    talk.
    • She will talk at Rutgers next week
    • Did you ever lecture at Harvard?
  5. verb censure severely or angrily
    call on the carpet; rag; dress down; remonstrate; chew out; take to task; call down; jaw; lambast; trounce; scold; chide; berate; chew up; have words; rebuke; reprimand; reproof; bawl out; lambaste.
    • The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
    • The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
    • The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup

WordNet

Lec"ture noun
Etymology
F. lecture, LL. lectura, fr. L. legere, lectum, to read. See Legend.
Definitions
  1. The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture. Obs.
  2. A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.
  3. A reprimand or formal reproof from one having authority.
  4. (Eng. Universities) A rehearsal of a lesson.
Lec"ture transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lectured ; present participle & verbal noun Lecturing
Definitions
  1. To read or deliver a lecture to.
  2. To reprove formally and with authority.
Lec"ture intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To deliver a lecture or lectures.

Webster 1913