Dictionary

recitation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌɹɛsəˈteɪʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌɹɛsɪˈteɪʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɹesəˈtæɪʃən/ (Australia, New-Zealand)

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French récitation, from Latin recitatio, equivalent to recite + -ation.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of publicly reciting something previously memorized.
   • The recitation will air nationally and be featured at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. 2021 January 27, Wayne Sterling, “Youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman to recite poem before Super Bowl LV”, in CNN:
2. (countable, uncountable) The material recited.
3. (countable, uncountable) A regularly scheduled class, in a school, in which discussion occurs of the material covered in a parallel lecture.
   • 1896, Frank Norris, "The 'English Courses' of the University of California", reprinted in, 1986, Novels and Essays, Library of America, →ISBN, page 1109, In the "announcement of courses" published annually by the faculty of the University of California the reader cannot fail to be impressed with the number and scope of the hours devoted by the students to recitations and lectures upon the subject of "literature."
   • I shall now endeavor to give some account of the College.... Some then go to a recitation of the lesson they have learnt the previous evening. Some return to their rooms till the breakfast-bell, about seven or after. At eight the sludy bell rings. All must then go in their rooms and continue there, even if they have no lessons to learn, unless they attend a recitation which occupies an hour. 1882, Wayside Gleanings for Leisure Moments, Cambridge University Press, page 20:
   • Many of my courses, however, were offered in recitation-lecture format. We would attend class, say twice a week, and a lecture once a week. ... I do seem to recall that my recitation sections seldom had less than 40 to 50 students and my lecture classes often had upwards of 100 to 300 students. 1999 October 29, J. Levine, “Re: Debate on accreditation of Jones International”, in alt.education.distance (Usenet):
4. (countable, uncountable) A reiteration; a setting down, e.g. for ease of reference, of something previously established.
5. (countable, uncountable) A part of a song's lyrics that is spoken rather than sung.

Forms

Deriveds

recitationist · misrecitation · recitational

Translations (41)

fi resitaatio (act of reciting) · fr récitation (material recited) · hu szavalat (act of reciting) · el αφήγηση (act of reciting) · de Vortragen (act of reciting) · ja 暗唱 (act of reciting) · cmn 吟誦 /吟诵 (act of reciting) · cs recitace (act of reciting) · cmn 背誦 /背诵 (act of reciting) · ko 낭송 (act of reciting) · el απαγγελία (act of reciting) · ko 낭독 (act of reciting) · bg рецити́ране (act of reciting) · cmn 朗誦 /朗诵 (act of reciting) · id penghafalan (act of reciting) · es recitación (act of reciting) · bo བཟླས་བརྗོད (act of reciting) · ru цити́рование (act of reciting) · la recitātiō (act of reciting) · pl deklamacja (act of reciting) · pl tekst (material recited) · ro recitare (act of reciting) · fi lausunta (act of reciting) · bo ངག་འདོན (act of reciting) · ru деклама́ция (act of reciting) · fi resitointi (act of reciting) · ga aithriseoireacht (act of reciting) · id hafalan (act of reciting) · bg деклами́ране (act of reciting) · id hafalan (material recited) · fr récitation (act of reciting) · ar تِلَاوَة (act of reciting) · ko 암송 (act of reciting) · de Rezitation (act of reciting) · pl recytacja (act of reciting) · cy adroddiad (act of reciting) · ga reacaireacht (act of reciting) · kk тақпақтау (act of reciting) · ru рецита́ция (act of reciting) · he דִּקְלוּם (act of reciting) · da recitation (act of reciting)