debate
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (2)debates
- a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal“the argument over foreign aid goes on and on”Synonyms: argumentargumentationType of discussion, give-and-takeKinds logomachy
- the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote)Synonyms: disputationpublic debateType of public speaking, speechmaking
Verb (4)debates, debated, debating
- argue with one another“We debated the question of abortion”“John debated Mary”More general consider, moot
- think about carefully; weigh“They considered the possibility of a strike”“Turn the proposal over in your mind”Synonyms: considermootturn overdeliberateMore general hash out, discussMore specific think twice, see, wrestle, premeditateSimilar study, consider
- discuss the pros and cons of an issueSynonyms: deliberateMore general hash out, discussMore specific vex
- have an argument about somethingSynonyms: arguecontendfenceMore general converse, discourseMore specific oppose, quarrel, quibble, spar, stickleInvolves disagree, differ
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun formal argument or discussion
- Spanish
- debate
- French
- débat
- German
- Debatte
- Italian
- dibattito
- Portuguese
- debate
- Turkish
- tartışma
- Russian
- деба́ты debáty
- Arabic
- مُنَاظَرَة munāẓara
- Chinese
- 辩论 biànlùn
- Japanese
- ディベート dibēto
22 more languages
- Dutch
- debat
- Polish
- debata
- Swedish
- debatt
- Greek
- συζήτηση syzítisi
- Korean
- 의논 uinon
- Indonesian
- debat
- Vietnamese
- tranh luận
- Hungarian
- vita
- Portuguese (PT)
- debate
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 辯論 biànlùn
- Catalan
- debat
- Czech
- debata
- Danish
- debat
- Esperanto
- debato
- Finnish
- debatti
- Hebrew
- דִּיּוּן diyún
- Latvian
- debates
- Norwegian
- debatt
- Romanian
- dezbatere
- Swahili
- mdahalo
- Welsh
- dadl
- Yiddish
- וויכּוח vikuekh
Verb participate in a debate
- Spanish
- debatir
- French
- débattre
- German
- debattieren
- Italian
- discutere
- Portuguese
- debater
- Turkish
- tartışmak
- Russian
- дискути́ровать diskutírovatʹ
- Chinese
- 辩论 biànlùn
- Dutch
- debatteren
- Swedish
- debattera
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, transitive verb, and cf. Abate.
1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.
Volunteers... thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine.— William Hickling Prescott
2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.
A wise council... that did debate this business.— William Shakespeare
Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself.— Prov. xxv. 9.
Synonyms: To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.
1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. obsolete Geoffrey Chaucer
Well could he tourney and in lists debate.— Edmund Spenser
2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; — often followed by on or upon.
He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends.— The Tatler
Origin: F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, transitive verb
1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. archaic
On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate... and in that murder there were slain... fourscore.— Robert of Gloucester
But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate.— Sir Walter Scott
2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.
Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate.— Alexander Pope
3. Subject of discussion. rare
Statutes and edicts concerning this debate.— John Milton
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54