Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense discourses, present participle discoursing, past tense, past participle discoursedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (dɪskɔːʳs). The verb is pronounced (dɪskɔːʳs).
1. uncountable noun
Discourse is spoken or written communication between people, especially serious discussion of a particular subject.
...a tradition of political discourse.
Synonyms: conversation, talk, discussion, speech More Synonyms of discourse
2. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
In linguistics, discourse is natural spoken or written language in context, especially when complete texts are being considered.
[technical]
The Centre has a strong record of research in discourse analysis.
...our work on discourse and the way people talk to each other.
3. countable noun
A discourse is a serious talk or piece of writing which is intended to teach or explain something.
[formal]
Hastings responds with a lengthy discourse on marketing strategies. [+ on]
Synonyms: speech, talk, address, essay More Synonyms of discourse
4. verb
If someone discourseson something, they talk for a long time about it in a confident way.
[formal]
He discoursed for several hours on French and English prose. [VERB preposition]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: talk, speak, discuss, debate More Synonyms of discourse
5. See also direct discourse, indirect discourse
discourse in British English
noun (ˈdɪskɔːs, dɪsˈkɔːs)
1.
verbal communication; talk; conversation
2.
a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
3.
a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence
4. archaic
the ability to reason or the reasoning process
verb (dɪsˈkɔːs)
5. (intr; often foll by on or upon)
to speak or write (about) formally and extensively
6. (intransitive)
to hold a discussion
7. (transitive) archaic
to give forth (music)
Derived forms
discourser (disˈcourser)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from discurrere to run different ways, from dis-1 + currere to run
discourse in American English
(ˈdɪsˌkɔrs; also, & for v. usually, dɪsˈkɔrs)
noun
1.
communication of ideas, information, etc., esp. by talking; conversation
2.
a long and formal treatment of a subject, in speech or writing; lecture; treatise; dissertation
3. Archaic
ability to reason; rationality
verb intransitiveWord forms: disˈcoursed or disˈcoursing
4.
to carry on conversation; talk; confer
5.
to speak or write (on or upon a subject) formally and at some length
verb transitive
6. Archaic
to utter or tell
SIMILAR WORDS: speak
Derived forms
discourser (disˈcourser)
noun
Word origin
ME & OFr discours < L discursus, discourse < pp. of discurrere, to run to and fro < dis-, from, apart + currere, to run: see current
Examples of 'discourse' in a sentence
discourse
Which is precisely what political discourse requires.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
More particularly, they should not be part of national political discourse.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Gender discourse is interwoven through national security discourse.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
The quality of political discourse these days remains high.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
How can the social conditions be established which practical discourse would require?
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
Here consequently was an inexhaustible subject of discourse.
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Are these not the very pages on which the national discourse is forged?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But our political discourse seems strangely complacent.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such a grim reality is obviously a far cry from the human and social requirements necessary for practical discourse.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
Keep religion out of political discourse.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In fact, practical discourse depends on contingent subject matter for its very existence.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
In the face of this equation, genuine political discourse disappears.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
But scientific discourse doesn't work in the same way as political discourse.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Above all put a rigorous, rich language back at the centre of political discourse.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Second, that discourse about music can provide new language for theology and thus enrich current patterns of theological language.
Christianity Today (2000)
But it all raises a question: how long can football enjoy its heady status at the centre of global discourse?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I will then deal with the question of whether or not the requirements for practical discourse arecompatible with criminal procedure.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
I love poetry, but the days when it was the primary mode of public discourse are long gone.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But it is also, simultaneously, a serious discourse on the true nature of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
As a result, resolving moral conflicts in truly rational, practical discourse is interfered with by the concerns of power and efficiency.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
Again, you sense the battle between his pride in Scotland and his resentment at a national discourse based on a mockery of beauty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A national language is the language of public discourse, control, and power.
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
In other languages
discourse
British English: discourse NOUN
Discourse is spoken or written communication between people, especially serious discussion of a particular subject.
...a tradition of political discourse.
American English: discourse
Brazilian Portuguese: discurso
Chinese: > 会话某专题的
European Spanish: discurso
French: discours
German: Diskurs
Italian: trattato
Japanese: 会話
Korean: 담화
European Portuguese: discurso
Latin American Spanish: discurso
All related terms of 'discourse'
direct discourse
In grammar , direct discourse is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used.
discourse analysis
analysis of elements of a language that extend or operate beyond the sentence
indirect discourse
Indirect discourse is the same as → indirect speech .
universe of discourse
the complete range of objects, events, attributes , relations , ideas, etc, that are expressed, assumed , or implied in a discussion
direct speech
In grammar , direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used.
indirect speech
Indirect speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example , 'They said you didn't like it', 'I asked her what her plans were', and ' Citizens complained about the smoke '.
1 (noun)
Definition
conversation
a tradition of political discourse
Synonyms
conversation
Our telephone conversation lasted an hour and a half.
talk
We had a long talk about life.
discussion
There was a discussion about the wording of the report.
speech
the development of speech in children
communication
The problem is a lack of real communication between you.
chat
She asked me into her office for a chat.
dialogue
Those who witnessed their dialogue spoke of high emotion.
converse
2 (noun)
Definition
a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing
He responds with a lengthy discourse on deployment strategy.
Synonyms
speech
He delivered his speech in French.
talk
The guide gave us a brief talk on the history of the site.
address
The president had scheduled an address to the people for that evening.
essay
He was asked to write an essay about his home town.
lecture
In his lecture he covered an enormous variety of topics.
sermon
his first sermon as bishop
treatise
a lengthy treatise on prison reform
dissertation
He is currently writing a dissertation.
homily
a receptive audience for his homily on moral values
oration
a brief funeral oration
disquisition
She launched into an authoritative disquisition.
whaikorero (New Zealand)
(verb)
Definition
to speak or write (about) at length
He discoursed for several hours on English prose.
Synonyms
talk
The boys all began to talk at once.
speak
It was very emotional when we spoke again.
discuss
They met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.
debate
The causes of depression are much debated.
confer
She conferred with Hill and the others in her office.
converse
They were conversing in German, their only common language.
declaim
He used to declaim verse to us with immense energy.
hold forth
He is capable of holding forth with great eloquence.
expatiate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of address
Definition
a formal speech
The president had scheduled an address to the people for that evening.
Synonyms
speech,
talk,
lecture,
discourse,
sermon,
dissertation,
harangue,
homily,
oration,
spiel (informal),
disquisition
in the sense of chat
Definition
an informal conversation
She asked me into her office for a chat.
Synonyms
talk,
tête-à-tête,
conversation,
gossip,
heart-to-heart,
natter,
blather,
schmooze (slang),
blether (Scottish),
chinwag (British, informal),
confab (informal),
craic (Irish, informal),
korero (New Zealand)
in the sense of communication
Definition
the exchange of information, ideas, or feelings
The problem is a lack of real communication between you.