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debating

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de⋅bate

  [di-beyt] noun, verb, -bat⋅ed, -bat⋅ing.
Use debating 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 debating
Controversial Issues
Debatable topics with 100s of sources in a pro-con format
www.ProCon.org
Barack Obama Job Approval
How is Obama doing as President? Tell YouGov what you think!
www.PollingPoint.com
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.
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Word Origin & History

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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