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debate - 7 dictionary results
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de⋅bate

  [di-beyt] noun, verb, -bat⋅ed, -bat⋅ing.
Use debate in a Sentence
–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.
–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.) ME debaten < OF debatre, equiv. to de- de- + batre to beat < L battere, earlier battuere; (n.) ME debat < OF, deriv. of debatre

Related forms:
de⋅bat⋅er, noun
de⋅bat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. argument, controversy, disputation, contention. 5. dispute, contend. See argue.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To debate
de·bate   (dĭ-bāt')   
v.   de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing, de·bates

v.   intr.
  1. To consider something; deliberate.
  2. To engage in argument by discussing opposing points.
  3. To engage in a formal discussion or argument. See Synonyms at discuss.
  4. Obsolete To fight or quarrel.
v.   tr.
  1. To deliberate on; consider.
  2. To dispute or argue about.
  3. To discuss or argue (a question, for example) formally.
  4. Obsolete To fight or argue for or over.
n.  
  1. A discussion involving opposing points; an argument.
  2. Deliberation; consideration: passed the motion with little debate.
  3. A formal contest of argumentation in which two opposing teams defend and attack a given proposition.
  4. Obsolete Conflict; strife.

[Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre : de-, de- + battre, to beat; see batter1.]
de·bate'ment n., de·bat'er n.
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

Debate

De*bate"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. d['e]battre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.]

1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.

Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. --Prescott.

2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.

A wise council . . . that did debate this business. --Shak.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. --Prov. xxv. 9.

Syn: To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.

Debate

De*bate"\, v. i. 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Well could he tourney and in lists debate. --Spenser.

2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon.

He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. --Tatler.

Debate

De*bate"\, n. [F. d['e]bat, fr. d['e]battre. See Debate, v. t.]

1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]

On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. --R. of Gloucester.

But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate. --Sir W. Scott.

2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.

Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. --Pope.

3. Subject of discussion. [R.]

Statutes and edicts concerning this debate. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : debate
Spanish: debate,
German: die Debatte,
Japanese: 討論
More Translations »

debate 
c.1300, from Fr. debattre (13c.), orig. "to fight," from de- "down, completely" + batre "to beat."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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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Search another word or see debate on Thesaurus | Reference
The Liberal News™ Insist
 Congress pass our private universal health care plan. Saves billions.
 www.theliberalnews.com
Controversial Issues
 Debatable topics with 100s of sources in a pro-con format
 www.ProCon.org