[di-beyt] 
noun, verb, -bat⋅ed, -bat⋅ing.| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| de·bate (dĭ-bāt') v. de·bat·ed, de·bat·ing, de·bates v. intr.
[Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre : de-, de- + battre, to beat; see batter1.] de·bate'ment n., de·bat'er n. |
