Reader Is an Academic Rank in Britain
A reader reads. In British universities it is also a senior title between senior lecturer and professor.
A reader is someone who reads. British universities use it as a rank: a Reader sits between senior lecturer and professor, awarded for distinction in research. The title comes from the medieval practice of a scholar reading a text aloud to students, which is also why a lecture is literally a reading.
- One who reads. *A keen reader.*
- A senior academic rank (British). *Appointed Reader in Physics.*
- A textbook of extracts. *A course reader.*
- A device. *A card reader.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | reader | A regular reader. |
| Plural | readers | Newspaper readers. |
| Verb | read | Read the notice. |
| Noun | readership | A wide readership. |
| Adjective | readable | A readable style. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Reader is a rank between senior lecturer and professor.British universities.
- Read has the same spelling in past and present.But different pronunciations.
- Lecture means a reading.Latin *lectura*.
British academic ranks
- Lecturer — the entry-level academic post
- Senior lecturer — the next stage
- Reader — awarded for research distinction
- Professor — the most senior rank, unlike the American usage
- Chair — a named professorial position
From *read*, Old English *rædan*, to advise or interpret — related to German *raten*, to advise.
What is a Reader in a British university?
A senior academic rank between senior lecturer and professor, awarded for distinguished research.
Did read once mean advise?
Yes. Old English *rædan* meant to counsel or interpret, which survives in *rede* and in names like Ethelred.