Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
lesser
Lesser Antilles
Lesser Bairam
lesser celandine
lesser omentum
lesser panda
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Sunda Islands
lesson
lessor
lest
-let
let (1)
let (2)
let down
let in
let in for
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "lesson" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

lesson

les·son [ léss'n ]


noun  (plural les·sons)
Definition:
 
1. instruction period: a period of time spent teaching or learning a subject

2. material taught: material to be taught or studied

3. new or better knowledge: some useful knowledge or sense that results from direct experience
I think there's a lesson there for all of us - think ahead.

4. useful experience: something that acts as an example, punishment, or warning by teaching something not previously understood or accepted

5. rebuke: a strong criticism or reproof, usually instructing or reminding somebody how to behave correctly
I need to give him a lesson in how to behave properly.

6. Bible passage: a passage from the Bible that is read out to the congregation during a church service
Today's lesson is from the book of Matthew.



transitive verb  (past and past participle les·soned, present participle les·son·ing, 3rd person present singular les·sons)
Definition:
 
1. instruct somebody: to teach somebody

2. scold somebody: to scold somebody for doing something wrong

[12th century. Via French leçon< Latin lection- "reading" < legere "to read"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft