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Debate

//dɪˈbeɪt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people, generally ending with a vote or other decision. countable, uncountable

    "After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion."

  2. 2
    a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal wordnet
  3. 3
    An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views. countable, uncountable

    "The debate over the age of the universe is thousands of years old."

  4. 4
    the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote) wordnet
  5. 5
    Discussion of opposing views. uncountable

    "There has been considerable debate concerning exactly how to format these articles."

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  1. 6
    A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    Strife, discord. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena. ambitransitive, reciprocal

    ""Debate me, coward!" snarled the completely normal intellectual."

  2. 2
    argue with one another wordnet
  3. 3
    To fight. intransitive, obsolete, reciprocal

    "Well knew they both his person, sith of late / With him in bloudie armes they rashly did debate."

  4. 4
    have an argument about something wordnet
  5. 5
    To engage in combat for; to strive for. obsolete, transitive

    "Volunteers […] thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardour in Spain as on the plains of Palestine."

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  1. 6
    discuss the pros and cons of an issue wordnet
  2. 7
    To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide transitive

    "He was debating where he'd spend his holiday."

  3. 8
    think about carefully; weigh wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre (“to fight, contend, debate, also literally to beat down”), from Romanic desbattere, from Latin dis- (“apart, in different directions”) + battuō (“to beat, to fence”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English debat, borrowed from Old French debat, deverbal of debatre, see Etymology 1 for more.

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