Lecture vs. Conference — What's the Difference?

A lecture (from the French lecture, meaning reading) is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical information, history, background, theories, and equations.

A conference is a meeting of people who "confer" about a topic.

An exposition of a given subject delivered before an audience or class, as for the purpose of instruction.

A dessert pear of a firm-fleshed variety.

An earnest admonition or reproof; a reprimand.

Take part in a conference or conference call

To deliver a lecture or series of lectures.

A meeting for consultation or discussion.

To deliver a lecture to (a class or audience).

An exchange of views.

To admonish or reprove earnestly, often at length

A meeting of committees to settle differences between two legislative bodies.

A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group.

An assembly of clerical or of clerical and lay members from a particular district in various Protestant churches.

(by extension) a class that primarily consists of a (weekly or other regularly held) lecture (as in sense 1) [usually at college or university]

(Sports) An association of teams.

A berating or scolding.

The act of conferring, as of an academic degree.

(obsolete) The act of reading.

The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

(ambitransitive) To teach (somebody) by giving a speech on a given topic.

(politics) A multilateral diplomatic negotiation.

(transitive) To preach, to berate, to scold.

(science) A formal event where scientists present their research results in speeches, workshops, posters or by other means.

The act of reading; as, the lecture of Holy Scripture.

(business) An event organized by a for-profit or non-profit organization to discuss a pressing issue, such as a new product, market trend or government regulation, with a range of speakers.

A discourse on any subject; especially, a formal or methodical discourse, intended for instruction; sometimes, a familiar discourse, in contrast with a sermon.

(sports) A group of sports teams that play each other on a regular basis.

A reprimand or formal reproof from one having authority.

A constituent tournament of a sports league in a given season.

A rehearsal of a lesson.

(obsolete) The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.

To read or deliver a lecture to.

(Methodist Church) A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

To reprove formally and with authority.

A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

To deliver a lecture or lectures.

To assess (a student) by one-on-one conversation, rather than an examination.

A speech that is open to the public;

The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.

A lengthy rebuke;

The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views.

Teaching by giving a discourse on some subject (typically to a class)

A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions.

Deliver a lecture or talk;

A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them.

Censure severely or angrily;

A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.

A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are.

A prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)

An association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

A discussion among participants who have an agreed (serious) topic