Make a speech; otherwise, had some food (5)
I believe the answer is:
orate
'make a speech' is the definition.
(oratory is public speaking)
'otherwise had some food' is the wordplay.
'otherwise' becomes 'or'.
'had some food' becomes 'ate' (to eat is to have food).
'or'+'ate'='ORATE'
(Other definitions for orate that I've seen before include "make speeches" , "Harangue" , "Speechify" , "Talk pompously" , "Make a pompous speech" .)