- 1 a period of time in which somebody is taught something She gives piano lessons. All new students are given lessons in/on how to use the library. I’m having/taking driving lessons. (especially British English) Our first lesson on Tuesdays is French. (especially British English) What did we do last lesson? CollocationsEducationLearning acquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(British English) (some) qualifications receive/provide somebody with training/tuition develop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially British English) course/(North American English) 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/lessonsSchool go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school be in the first, second, etc. (North American English) grade/(especially British English) year (at school) study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc. (British English) leave/finish/drop out of/ (North American English) quit school (North American English) graduate high school/collegeProblems at school be the victim/target of bullying (British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should) (both especially North American English) skip/cut class/school (British English) cheat in/(North American English) cheat on an exam/a test get/be given a detention (for doing something) be expelled from/be suspended from schoolWork and exams do your homework/(British English) revision/a project on something work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(North American English) a paper finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/coursework hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper study/prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/an exam take/ (both British English) do/sit a test/an exam (especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/a test (British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (informal, especially North American English) ace a test/an exam pass/fail/ (informal, especially North American English) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subjectUniversity apply to/get into/go to/start college/(British English) university leave/graduate from law school/college/(British English) university (with a degree in computer science) study for/take/ (British English) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics (both North American English) major/minor in biology/philosophy earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master’s degree/a bachelor’s degree/a PhD in economics compare class Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, interesting, boring, … verb + lessonattend, go to, have, … lesson + nounplan prepositionduring a/the lesson, in a/the lesson, lesson about, … See full entry
- 2 something that is intended to be learned The course book is divided into 30 lessons. Other countries can teach us a lesson or two on industrial policy. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebasic, big, good, … verb + lessondraw, learn, teach somebody, … prepositionlesson from, lesson in, lesson of, … See full entry
- 3 an experience, especially an unpleasant one, that somebody can learn from so that it does not happen again in the future a salutary lesson The accident taught me a lesson I'll never forget. We are still absorbing the harsh lessons of this disaster. It was a lesson not lost on (= learned well by) the team manager. lesson to somebody Let that be a lesson to you(= so that you do not make the same mistake again). Their openness was a terrific lesson to me. see also object lesson Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebasic, big, good, … verb + lessondraw, learn, teach somebody, … prepositionlesson from, lesson in, lesson of, … See full entry
- 4a passage from the Bible that is read to people during a church service The first lesson is taken from St John’s Gospel. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French leçon, from Latin lectio ‘choosing, reading’, from the verb legere.Extra examples He got into trouble for skipping lessons. He took lessons in Thai cookery. I go to Italian lessons at the local college. I had learned a lesson in respecting the privacy of others. I had to take a biology lesson this afternoon because the biology teacher was away. I learned a lesson in harsh economics when I was made redundant. I’m taking driving lessons at the moment. It is dangerous to ignore the lessons of the past. It taught me some valuable lessons about working with other people. It’s a hard lesson to learn. No talking was allowed during the lesson. Pupils get lessons on how to organize their study time. She gives singing lessons. She started guitar lessons at the age of 38. She was preparing a lesson plan for a class she was teaching. The trouble is that teachers don’t prepare their lessons carefully enough. There are important lessons to be learned from this mistake. They have a lesson with Mrs Evans at two o’clock. They’re offering free lessons in computing. We had a history lesson followed by a double maths lesson. We need to remember the lessons of history. What lessons can we draw from this unfortunate experience? You can’t expect to learn all there is to know about the subject in a 45-minute lesson. a lesson about the Civil War a lesson on the Roman Empire I have a piano lesson after school today. I’ve decided to take golf lessons. New students get lessons in how to use the library. She made a living giving private lessons in English. We’ve got a lesson with Mr Jones this afternoon. piano/driving lessonsIdioms
to learn what to do or not to do in the future because you have had a bad experience in the past
Check pronunciation: lesson
