RECITATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does recitation mean? 

• RECITATION (noun)
  The noun RECITATION has 4 senses:

1. written matter that is recited from memory

2. a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance

3. a regularly scheduled session as part of a course of study

4. systematic training by multiple repetitions

  Familiarity information: RECITATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RECITATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Written matter that is recited from memory

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("recitation" is a kind of...):

matter (written works (especially in books or magazines))

Derivation:

recite (repeat aloud from memory)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

reading; recital; recitation

Context example:

the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems

Hypernyms ("recitation" is a kind of...):

oral presentation; public speaking; speaking; speechmaking (delivering an address to a public audience)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "recitation"):

declamation (recitation of a speech from memory with studied gestures and intonation as an exercise in elocution or rhetoric)

Derivation:

recite (recite in elocution)

recite (render verbally)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A regularly scheduled session as part of a course of study

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

class period; course session; recitation

Hypernyms ("recitation" is a kind of...):

session (a meeting devoted to a particular activity)

Holonyms ("recitation" is a part of...):

class; course; course of instruction; course of study (education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Systematic training by multiple repetitions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

drill; exercise; practice; practice session; recitation

Context example:

practice makes perfect

Hypernyms ("recitation" is a kind of...):

grooming; preparation; training (activity leading to skilled behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "recitation"):

fire drill (an exercise intended to train people in duties and escape procedures to be followed in case of fire)

manual; manual of arms ((military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle)

military drill (training in marching and the use of weapons)

rehearsal ((psychology) a form of practice; repetition of information (silently or aloud) in order to keep it in short-term memory)

dry run; rehearsal (a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert))

brushup; review (practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory)

scrimmage ((American football) practice play between a football team's squads)

shadowboxing (sparring with an imaginary opponent (for exercise or training))

target practice (practice in shooting at targets)

 Context examples 

Just fancy how horrid!—and led her to the recitation platform, and made her stand there half an hour, holding the slate so everyone could see.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)