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noun
1.
a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
2.
a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
3.
deliberation; consideration.
4.
Archaic. strife; contention.
verb (used without object)
5.
to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.
6.
to participate in a formal debate.
7.
to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
8.
Obsolete. to fight; quarrel.
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Debate
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
| to bark; yelp. |
verb (used with object)
9.
to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.
10.
to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
11.
to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
12.
to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.
13.
Archaic. to contend for or over.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
de·bat·er, noun
de·bat·ing·ly, adverb
in·ter·de·bate, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
non·de·bat·er, noun
non·de·bat·ing, adjective
EXPANDout·de·bate, verb (used with object), -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
o·ver·de·bate, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
post·de·bate, adjective
pre·de·bate, noun
pre·de·bat·er, noun
re·de·bate, noun, verb, -bat·ed, -bat·ing.
un·de·bat·ed, adjective
un·de·bat·ing, adjective
well-de·bat·ed, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Debate
Example Sentences
- The stakes in the global-warming debate, however, could scarcely be higher.
- The question of whether or not to drill fuels an ongoing debate.
- So debate all you want, anthropology is a science if you want it to be and it isn't if you don't want it to be so.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
debate
c.1300, from Fr. debattre (13c.), orig. "to fight," from de- "down, completely" + batre "to beat."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
debate
formal, oral confrontation between two individuals, teams, or groups who present arguments to support opposing sides of a question, generally according to a set form or procedure
Learn more about debate with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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