About The Word Debate

Bay Area Crosswords

Learn about the word Debate to help solve your crossword puzzle. Discover Debate definitions and meaning, origins, synonyms, related terms and more at the free Crossword Dictionary.

Debate

Debate Meaning & Definition
Debate Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Debate?

[n] a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal; "the argument over foreign aid goes on and on"
[n] the formal presentation of and opposition to a stated proposition (usually followed by a vote)
[v] argue with one another; "We debated the question of abortion"; "John debated Mary"
[v] have an argument about something
[v] discuss the pros and cons of an issue
[v] think about carefully; weigh; "They considered the possibility of a strike"; "Turn the proposal over in your mind"

Synonyms | Synonyms for Debate: argue | argument | argumentation | consider | contend | deliberate | disputation | fence | moot | public debate | turn over

Related Terms | Find terms related to Debate: 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

See Also | altercate | argufy | bicker | brabble | consider | consult | converse | debate | debate | deliberate | differ | disagree | discourse | discuss | discussion | dispute | dissent | give-and-take | moot | niggle | oppose | oral presentation | pettifog | premeditate | public speaking | quarrel | quibble | scrap | see | spar | speaking | speechmaking | squabble | stickle | take counsel | take issue | talk over | think twice | turn over | vex | word | wrestle

Debate In Webster's Dictionary

\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}.
\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.
\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.

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