debate
[dih-beyt]
- a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
- a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
- deliberation; consideration.
- Archaic. strife; contention.
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- to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.
- to participate in a formal debate.
- to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
- Obsolete. to fight; quarrel.
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- to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.
- to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
- to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
- to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.
- Archaic. to contend for or over.
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Origin of debate
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English debaten < Old French debatre, equivalent to de- de- + batre to beat < Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun) Middle English debat < Old French, derivative of debatre
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
5. See argue.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
deliberation, contest, argument, controversy, match, dispute, consider, bicker, deliberate, question, wrangle, oppose, answer, argumentation, dialectic, contention, agitation, polemic, tiff, hassleExamples from the Web for debate
Contemporary Examples
The debate over who really pulled off the Sony hack, then, could continue indefinitely.
And it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.
They already know the answer, but they know by feigning ignorance they can create all this debate about it.
They are already infinitely more qualified to have that debate than we are.
Cover-Ups and Concern Trolls: Actually, It's About Ethics in Suicide JournalismArthur Chu
January 3, 2015
During a debate, the candidates were asked about the islands.
Historical Examples
The supremacy of the nation and its laws should be no longer a subject of debate.
But let it—if it must be Lovelace or Solmes, the choice cannot admit of debate.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
The debate began April 12th, and continued for eight nights.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
He was quite aware of his own ascendency in counsel and his supremacy in debate.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
I see that they are already forming to continue this debate with us.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
debate
- a formal discussion, as in a legislative body, in which opposing arguments are put forward
- discussion or dispute
- the formal presentation and opposition of a specific motion, followed by a vote
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- to discuss (a motion), esp in a formal assembly
- to deliberate upon (something)he debated with himself whether to go
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French debatre to discuss, argue, from Latin battuere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for debate
n.
early 14c., "a quarrel, dispute, disagreement," from Old French debat; see debate (v.). Sense of "a formal dispute, a debating contest" is perhaps from early 15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper