lectern
10
6.0
- noun
- /ˈlɛk.tɚn/
:
atril
- We gathered around the lectern as the speaker prepared to begin her presentation.
- stand at the lectern
I'm sorry to be addressing you from a chair instead of from the lectern, but the faiths did something to my knee, and so I'm glad to be here at all.
- I'm sorry to be addressing you from a chair instead of from the lectern, but the faiths did something to my knee, and so I'm glad to be here at all.
- They say that now he's out of the hospital and there's a question about whether he can stand at the lectern.
- Can you imagine the Jesse Watters freak out if Kamala Harris walked up to the lectern at a rally and start talking about how hot she was?
Examples
-
Janis Langwiser went back to the lectern with her legal pad.
Fiction book (2001) -
At the head of the table was an empty chair; a small lectern stood in front of it.
Fiction book (1998) -
We are going to have a question period now, Andrew, if you would come back to the lectern, these are the ground rules.
-
The lead prosecutor stood and moved to the lectern positioned between the two lawyers' tables.
Fiction book (2001) -
The PRIEST speaks from the lectern, addressing semi-filled rows of the faithful.
Fiction book (1999) -
At the front of the platform, at the speaker's lectern, stood the New Republic Provisional Council's best-loved speaker.
Fiction book (1998) -
When the musicians return, Abu el-Aid raps sharply on the lectern, with a ruler this time.
Academic text (1995) -
Casimir set his graceful hands on the lectern's edges and drew a deep breath.
Fiction book (1992) -
Mr. Bellow was leaning against the lectern, amiably talking and listening, nodding, smiling, signing books.
Academic text (1997) -
Before starting his speech, he adjusted his notes on the lectern.
Synonyms
322
2.5
A piece of furniture that holds or shows things
A stand with a slanted top that holds a book at a good height for reading or giving a talk
A stand that holds a book open so people can read or see it
How Tall
Surface Forms
Morphology
lectern = lecture (semi-transparent) = lect + ern
The word is recognizably related to 'lecture' (used when lecturing), but the combining form 'lect' is not a standalone English word and the suffix '-ern' is rare, so the exact meaning ('a stand') is only partly predictable.
Etymology
The word lectern comes from the Latin root legere which means 'to read', the same root you see in lecture. That's why a lectern is a tall stand with a sloping top where you put a book or notes when you read aloud or give a talk.