lectern

UK: /ˈlɛktə^rn/ US: /ˈlɛktɚn/ ,(lek′tərn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lec•tern /ˈlɛktɚn/   n. [countable]

1. Furniture a stand with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, etc., at the proper height for a standing reader or speaker.

See -lec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lec•tern  (lek′tərn), n. 

1. Religion a reading desk in a church on which the Bible rests and from which the lessons are read during the church service.
2. Furniture a stand with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, manuscript, etc., at the proper height for a reader or speaker.

• Medieval Latin lēctrum, as above
• Middle French letrun
• Medieval Latin lēctrīnum, derivative of lēctrum lectern, equivalent. to Latin leg(ere) to read + -trum instrumental suffix; replacing Middle English letroun, lettorne
• earlier lectron(e), late Middle English lectryn 1275–1325

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lectern / ˈlɛktən/ noun

1. a reading desk or support in a church
2. any similar desk or support

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French lettrun, from Late Latin lectrum, ultimately from legere to read