DEBATE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Debate

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/dəbˈeɪt/ Listen

noun

Debate n.

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." "But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate."

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."

3.

Subject of discussion. (R.) "Statutes and edicts concerning this debate."

verb

Debate v. t. (past & past part. debated; pres. part. debating)

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."

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." "Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself."

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

Debate v. i.

1.

To engage in strife or combat; to fight. (Obs.) "Well could he tourney and in lists debate."

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."

See images of 'Debate'

Etymology of 'Debate'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Debate" Quotes from Famous Books

... question as to who should meet her at Jersey City was immediately raised; and the material difficulties amid which the Welland household struggled as if it had been a frontier outpost, lent animation to the debate. It was agreed that Mrs. Welland could not possibly go to Jersey City because she was to accompany her husband to old Catherine's that afternoon, and the brougham could not be spared, since, if Mr. ...

— The Age of Innocence • Edith Wharton

... CHAMBER, by James R. Vinyard, Member from Grant county. THE AFFAIR grew out of a nomination for Sheriff of Grant county. Mr. E. S. Baker was nominated and supported by Mr. Arndt. This nomination was opposed by Vinyard, who wanted the appointment to vest in his own brother. In the course of debate, the deceased made some statements which Vinyard pronounced false, and made use of violent and insulting language, dealing largely in personalities, to which Mr. A. made no reply. After the adjournment, ...

— American Notes for General Circulation • Charles Dickens

... est altercatio clamoribus umquam habita majoribus, no debate was ever held under circumstances ...

— New Latin Grammar • Charles E. Bennett

... birds of doubt Sing to mislead, and every dream dies out, And the dark riddles which perplex us here In the sharp solvent of its light are clear? Thou knowest how vain our quest; how, soon or late, The baffling tides and circles of debate Swept back our bark unto its starting-place, Where, looking forth upon the blank, gray space, And round about us seeing, with sad eyes, The same old difficult hills and cloud-cold skies, We said: "This outward search availeth not To find Him. He is ...

— The Complete Works of Whittier - The Standard Library Edition with a linked Index • John Greenleaf Whittier

... answer your letter of the 21st December, Sir, because it was useless to commence a debate here between you and me, upon the motives well or ill founded from which I took upon myself to stop the Cumberland until further orders. On the other hand, I should have had too much advantage in refuting your assertions, notwithstanding ...

— A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 2 • Matthew Flinders

Copyright © 2025 Diccionario ingles.com