Meaning & Definition
noun
The act of reciting before an audience; a performance of a poem, piece of literature, or other work.
The students prepared for their poetry recitation in front of the class.
A repeating or saying aloud of a piece of text from memory.
Her recitation of the Shakespearean sonnet impressed everyone in the room.
An instance of reciting something, such as a speech or a legislative act.
During the ceremony, each child had a moment for recitation of their favorite lines from the book.
A series of detailed accounts or descriptions.
His recitation of the events leading up to the incident was vivid and thorough.
Etymology
From Latin 'recitatio', from 'recitare' which means 'to read again'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
recitation of the facts:
An accurate and detailed presentation of facts or information.
homework recitation:
A school assignment where students present material from memory.
recitation in class:
A practice in education where students orally present material.
Slang Meanings
Spewing memorized lines
He was just spewing memorized lines during his recitation.
Word-for-word
She had the entire speech down to the recitation, word-for-word.