argument definition | Dictionary.com

ar⋅gu⋅ment

[ahr-gyuh-muh

nt]

–noun

1.	an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation: a violent argument.

2.	a discussion involving differing points of view; debate: They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.

3.	a process of reasoning; series of reasons: I couldn't follow his argument.

4.	a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point: This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.

5.	an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.

6.	subject matter; theme: The central argument of his paper was presented clearly.

7.	an abstract or summary of the major points in a work of prose or poetry, or of sections of such a work.

Mathematics.

a.	an independent variable of a function.

b.	Also called amplitude. the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.

c.	the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates. Compare principal argument.

9.	Computers. a variable in a program, to which a value will be assigned when the program is run: often given in parentheses following a function name and used to calculate the function.

10.

Obsolete.

a.	evidence or proof.

b.	a matter of contention.

Origin:
1325–75; ME (< OF) < L argūmentum. See argue, -ment

Synonyms:
1. Argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression of opinions for and against some idea. An argument usually arises from a disagreement between two persons, each of whom advances facts supporting his or her own point of view. A controversy or a dispute may involve two or more persons. A dispute is an oral contention, usually brief, and often of a heated, angry, or undignified character: a violent dispute over a purchase. A controversy is an oral or written expression of contrary opinions, and may be dignified and of some duration: a political controversy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To argument

ar·gu·ment (är'gyə-mənt)

1. A discussion in which disagreement is expressed; a debate.
2. A quarrel; a dispute.
3. Archaic A reason or matter for dispute or contention: "sheath'd their swords for lack of argument" (Shakespeare).
4. A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood: presented a careful argument for extraterrestrial life.
5. A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason: The current low mortgage rates are an argument for buying a house now.
6. A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.
7. A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.
8. A topic; a subject: "You and love are still my argument" (Shakespeare).
9. An independent variable of a function.
10. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.
1. A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood: presented a careful argument for extraterrestrial life.
2. A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason: The current low mortgage rates are an argument for buying a house now.
3. A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.
4. A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.
5. A topic; a subject: "You and love are still my argument" (Shakespeare).
6. An independent variable of a function.
7. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.
1. A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.
2. A topic; a subject: "You and love are still my argument" (Shakespeare).
3. An independent variable of a function.
4. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.
Logic The minor premise in a syllogism.
Mathematics
1. An independent variable of a function.
2. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.
Computer Science A value used to evaluate a procedure or subroutine.
Linguistics In generative grammar, any of various positions occupied by a noun phrase in a sentence.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin argūmentum, from arguere, to make clear; see argue.]

Synonyms: These nouns denote discussion involving conflicting points of view. Argument stresses the advancement by each side of facts and reasons intended to persuade the other side: Emotions are seldom swayed by argument.
Dispute implies animosity: A dispute arose among union members about the terms of the new contract.
Controversy applies especially to major differences of opinion involving large groups of people: The use of nuclear power is the subject of widespread controversy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Argument

Ar"gu*ment\, n. [F. argument, L. argumentum, fr. arguere to argue.]

1. Proof; evidence. [Obs.]

There is.. no more palpable and convincing argument of the existence of a Deity. --Ray.

Why, then, is it made a badge of wit and an argument of parts for a man to commence atheist, and to cast off all belief of providence, all awe and reverence for religion? --South.

2. A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.

3. A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.

The argument is about things, but names. --Locke.

4. The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem.

You and love are still my argument. --Shak.

The abstract or argument of the piece. --Jeffrey.

[Shields] with boastful argument portrayed. --Milton.

5. Matter for question; business in hand. [Obs.]

Sheathed their swords for lack of argument. --Shak.

6. (Astron.) The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.

7. (Math.) The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends. --Brande & C.

Argument

Ar"gu*ment\ ([a^]r"g[-u]*ment), v. i. [L. argumentari.] To make an argument; to argue. [Obs.] --Gower.

Language Translation for : argument

Spanish: discusión,

German: der Streit,

Japanese: 議論

More Translations »

Main Entry: ar·gu·ment
Function: noun
1 : a reason or the reasoning given for or against a matter under discussion —compare EVIDENCE, PROOF
2 : the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing; especially : ORAL ARGUMENT —see also CLOSING ARGUMENT

argument programming
(Or "arg") A value or reference passed to a function, procedure, subroutine, command or program, by the caller. For example, in the function definition
square(x) = x * x
x is the formal argument or "parameter", and in the call
y = square(3+4)
3+4 is the actual argument. This will execute the function square with x having the value 7 and return the result 49.
There are many different conventions for passing arguments to functions and procedures including call-by-value, call-by-name, call-by-reference, call-by-need. These affect whether the value of the argument is computed by the caller or the callee (the function) and whether the callee can modify the value of the argument as seen by the caller (if it is a variable).
Arguments to functions are usually, following mathematical notation, written in parentheses after the function name, separated by commas (but see curried function). Arguments to a program are usually given after the command name, separated by spaces, e.g.:
cat myfile yourfile hisfile
Here "cat" is the command and "myfile", "yourfile", and "hisfile" are the arguments.
(2006-05-27)

argument

see under pick a quarrel.

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