Dictionary.com

discourse

[ noun dis-kawrs, -kohrs, dis-kawrs, -kohrs; verb dis-kawrs, -kohrs ]
/ noun ˈdɪs kɔrs, -koʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs; verb dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs /
See synonyms for: discourse / discourser on Thesaurus.com

noun

communication of thought by words; talk; conversation: earnest and intelligent discourse.
a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
Linguistics. any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.

verb (used without object), dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.

to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.
to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

verb (used with object), dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing.

to utter or give forth (musical sounds).

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
gato/gata
cato/cata
gatto/gatta
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of discourse

1325–75; Middle English discours<Medieval Latin discursus (spelling by influence of Middle English cours course), Late Latin: conversation, Latin: a running to and fro, equivalent to discur(rere) to run about (dis-dis-1 + currere to run) + -sus for -tus suffix of v. action

OTHER WORDS FROM discourse

dis·cours·er, nounpre·dis·course, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to discourse

essay, rhetoric, treatise, communication, discussion, conversation, speech, lecture, monologue, huddle, thesis, descant, converse, homily, verbalization, monograph, sermon, paper, speaking, chat

Example sentences from the Web for discourse

British Dictionary definitions for discourse

discourse

noun (ˈdɪskɔːs, dɪsˈkɔːs)

verbal communication; talk; conversation
a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence
archaic the ability to reason or the reasoning process

verb (dɪsˈkɔːs)

Derived forms of discourse

discourser, noun

Word Origin for discourse

C14: from Medieval Latin discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from discurrere to run different ways, from dis- 1 + currere to run
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012