- a unit, or single period of instruction in a subject; class: an hour-long music lesson
- the content of such a unit
- material assigned for individual study
- something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned; example
- the principles, knowledge, etc, gained
- a reprimand or punishment intended to correct
- a portion of Scripture appointed to be read at divine service
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
les•son /ˈlɛsən/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a section into which a course of study is divided:to take driving lessons.
- a unit of a book, an exercise, etc., that is assigned to a student for study.
- something to be learned or studied:Have we learned anything from the lessons of history?
- a useful piece of practical wisdom coming from one's experience or study:The accident taught him a lesson.
- a punishment intended to teach one better ways:If she does that again, he'll give her a good lesson.
- Religiona portion of Scripture read at a church service.
les•son
(les′ən),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- a section into which a course of study is divided, esp. a single, continuous session of formal instruction in a subject:The manual was broken down into 50 lessons.
- a part of a book, an exercise, etc., that is assigned to a student for study:The lesson for today is on page 22. He worked assiduously at his music lesson.
- something to be learned or studied:the lessons of the past.
- a useful piece of practical wisdom acquired by experience or study:That accident certainly taught him a lesson in careful driving.
- something from which a person learns or should learn;
an instructive example:Her faith should serve as a lesson to all of us. - a reproof or punishment intended to teach one better ways.
- Religiona portion of Scripture or other sacred writing read or appointed to be read at a divine service;
lection;
pericope.
v.t.
- to teach;
instruct;
give a lesson to. - to admonish or reprove.
- Latin lēctiōn- (stem of lēctiō) lection
- Old French leçon
- Middle English lesso(u)n 1175–1225
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
lesson /ˈlɛsən/ n
'moral lesson' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):