recitation
Other forms: recitations
If you've ever repeated a rhyming poem from memory in front of an audience, you've given a recitation.
The noun recitation comes from the word "recite." When you recite, or say something you've memorized, you give a recitation. This happens a lot in school and in religious traditions, but you might also hear your know-it-all friend give an impromptu recitation of a famous director's films or every Beatles song in alphabetical order. The word comes from the Latin prefix re, "again," and the word citare, "to summon." Summoning again from memory is recitation.
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a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance“the program included songs and recitations of well-loved poems”
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types:
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declamation
recitation of a speech from memory with studied gestures and intonation as an exercise in elocution or rhetoric
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type of:
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oral presentation, public speaking, speaking, speechmaking
delivering an address to a public audience
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declamation
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written matter that is recited from memory
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type of:
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matter
written works (especially in books or magazines)
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matter
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systematic training by multiple repetitions
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synonyms:
drill, exercise, practice, practice session
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types:
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fire drill
an exercise intended to train people in duties and escape procedures to be followed in case of fire
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manual, manual of arms
(military) a prescribed drill in handling a rifle
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military drill
training in marching and the use of weapons
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rehearsal
(psychology) a form of practice; repetition of information (silently or aloud) in order to keep it in short-term memory
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dry run, rehearsal
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
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brushup, review
practice intended to polish performance or refresh the memory
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scrimmage
(American football) practice play between a football team's squads
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shadowboxing
sparring with an imaginary opponent (for exercise or training)
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target practice
practice in shooting at targets
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close-order drill
(military) military drill of troops in standard marching (shoulder-to-shoulder)
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square-bashing
drill on a barracks square
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dress rehearsal
a full uninterrupted rehearsal in costumes shortly before the first performance
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run-through
an uninterrupted rehearsal
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walk-through
a first perfunctory rehearsal of a theatrical production in which actors read their lines from the script and move as directed
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rub up
a review that refreshes your memory
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type of:
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grooming, preparation, training
activity leading to skilled behavior
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a regularly scheduled session as part of a course of study
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synonyms:
class period, course session
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type of:
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session
a meeting devoted to a particular activity
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session
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Vocabulary lists containing recitation
Prepare for Passover by brushing up on this list of common vocabulary terms associated with the holiday.
Set in Nebraska during the late 19th century, this novel follows the lives of Nathaniel, a boy recovering from a farm injury, and John, an orphan adopted by Nathaniel's father to help work on the farm, as they form a friendship and help each other navigate through the challenges of small-town life.
A sequel to Amina's Voice, this novel follows Amina as she tries to help her friends understand the beauty of Pakistan after her presentation on Malala Yousafzai goes awry.
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