Erudite speech, one reads (7)

I believe the answer is:

lecture

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'erudite speech' is the definition.
'lecture' can be an answer for 'speech' (lecture is a kind of speech). I'm unsure of the 'erudite' bit.

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lecture that I've seen before include "Instruct - admonish" , "Lengthy reprimand" , "Instructional talk" , "Discourse for students" , "Professorial discourse" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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