'Debate' definitions:
Definition of 'debate'
(from WordNet)
noun
A discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal; "the argument over foreign aid goes on and on" [syn: argument, argumentation, debate]
noun
The formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote) [syn: debate, disputation, public debate]
verb
Argue with one another; "We debated the question of abortion"; "John debated Mary"
verb
Think about carefully; weigh; "They considered the possibility of a strike"; "Turn the proposal over in your mind" [syn: consider, debate, moot, turn over, deliberate]
verb
Discuss the pros and cons of an issue [syn: debate, deliberate]
verb
Definition of 'Debate'
From: GCIDE
- Debate \De*bate"\, v. i.
- 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Well could he tourney and in lists debate. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. --Tatler. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Debate'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- A wise council . . . that did debate this business. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. --Prov. xxv. 9.
- Syn: To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Debate'
From: GCIDE
- Debate \De*bate"\, n. [F. d['e]bat, fr. d['e]battre. See Debate, v. t.]
- 1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]
- On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. --R. of Gloucester. [1913 Webster]
- But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Subject of discussion. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- Statutes and edicts concerning this debate. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'debate'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- address,
- after-dinner speech,
- agitate,
- air,
- airing,
- allocution,
- altercation,
- analysis,
- analyze,
- application,
- argue,
- argument,
- argumentation,
- back down,
- balance,
- be abstracted,
- bickering,
- brood,
- buzz session,
- canvass,
- canvassing,
- cat-and-dog life,
- chalk talk,
- chew the cud,
- cloture,
- cogitation,
- colloquium,
- combat,
- comment upon,
- committee consideration,
- concentration,
- conference,
- conflict,
- consider,
- consideration,
- contemplate,
- contemplation,
- contend,
- contention,
- contentiousness,
- contest,
- contestation,
- controversy,
- controvert,
- cut and thrust,
- deal with,
- debating,
- declaim,
- declamation,
- deliberate,
- deliberate upon,
- deliberation,
- demagogue,
- demur,
- dialectic,
- dialogue,
- diatribe,
- digest,
- discept,
- discourse about,
- discuss,
- discussion,
- disputation,
- dispute,
- division,
- elocute,
- enmity,
- eulogy,
- examination,
- examine,
- exchange of views,
- exchange views,
- exhortation,
- falter,
- fear,
- fighting,
- filibuster,
- filibustering,
- filing,
- first reading,
- forensic,
- forensic address,
- formal speech,
- forum,
- funeral oration,
- go into,
- handle,
- hang back,
- harangue,
- heed,
- hem and haw,
- hesitate,
- hold forth,
- hortatory address,
- hostility,
- hover,
- hum and haw,
- inaugural,
- inaugural address,
- introduction,
- introspect,
- invective,
- investigate,
- investigation,
- jeremiad,
- jib,
- joint discussion,
- Kilkenny cats,
- knock around,
- litigation,
- logical analysis,
- logical discussion,
- logomachy,
- logrolling,
- meditate,
- meditation,
- moot,
- mouth,
- mull over,
- muse,
- open discussion,
- open forum,
- orate,
- oration,
- out-herod Herod,
- panel discussion,
- paper war,
- pass under review,
- pause,
- pep talk,
- perorate,
- peroration,
- perpend,
- philippic,
- pitch,
- play around with,
- play with,
- polemic,
- ponder,
- ponder over,
- prepared speech,
- prepared text,
- public speech,
- pull back,
- quarrel,
- quarreling,
- quarrelsomeness,
- question,
- rabble-rouse,
- rant,
- rap,
- rap session,
- read,
- reading,
- reason,
- reason about,
- reason the point,
- recital,
- recitation,
- recite,
- reflect,
- reflection,
- refuting,
- retreat,
- review,
- rodomontade,
- roll call,
- ruminate,
- ruminate over,
- sales talk,
- salutatory,
- salutatory address,
- say,
- scrapping,
- screed,
- scruple,
- second reading,
- seminar,
- set speech,
- shilly-shally,
- shy,
- sift,
- speculate,
- speech,
- speechification,
- speeching,
- spiel,
- spout,
- squabbling,
- steamroller methods,
- stick at,
- stickle,
- stop to consider,
- straddle the fence,
- strain at,
- strife,
- struggle,
- study,
- symposium,
- tabling,
- take up,
- talk,
- talk about,
- talk of,
- talk over,
- talkathon,
- think over,
- think through,
- think twice about,
- third reading,
- thrash out,
- thresh out,
- tirade,
- toss,
- town meeting,
- toy with,
- treat,
- treatment,
- tub-thump,
- valediction,
- valedictory,
- valedictory address,
- ventilate,
- ventilation,
- vote,
- war,
- war of words,
- warfare,
- weigh,
- withdraw,
- words,
- wrangle,
- wrangling,
- yield