I. lec ‧ ture 1 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.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ give a lecture ( also deliver a lecture formal )
She gave a fascinating lecture on crime in the 1800s.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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In her speech, she proposed major changes to the welfare system.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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 ↑ journalist s :
The minister issued a short statement in which he said he had no plans to resign.
II. lecture 2 AC BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ lecture , ↑ lecturer , ↑ lectureship ; verb : ↑ lecture ]
1 . [transitive] to talk angrily or seriously to someone in order to criticize or warn them, in a way that they think is unfair or unnecessary:
I wish you’d stop lecturing me!
lecture somebody about/on something
He began to lecture us about making too much noise.
2 . [intransitive] to talk to a group of people on a particular subject, especially to students in a university
lecture on
He lectures on European art at Manchester University.