debate
/dɪˈbeɪt
/noun
1A formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote: last night’s debate on the Education Bill...
- Watt committed himself to holding more public debates and discussions separate from council meetings.
- In those circumstances the House does not need to hold an urgent debate on the matter today.
- Not one public meeting or debate has been organised by the council.
Synonyms
discussion, exchange of views, discourse, parley;
argument, dispute, wrangle, altercation, war of words;
arguing, argumentation, wrangling, sparring, disputation, dissension, disagreement, controversy, contention, conflict, disharmony;
negotiations, talks;
dialogue, comment, interest
informal confab, powwow, rap session
rare velitation, contestation
1.1An argument about a particular subject, especially one in which many people are involved: the national debate on abortion [mass noun]: there has been much debate about prices...
- The debate on this subject will go on as long as the human race exists, so all I can do is raise a few points on the subject.
- This aspect of the debate has been the subject of much political and academic disagreement.
- I wouldn't normally involve myself in debates or arguments about who should be American president.
verb [with object]
1Argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner: MPs debated the issue in the Commons [no object]: members of the society debated for five nights...
- The issue of the bridge came up again, for the second month in a row, and again the topic was hotly debated.
- But when it came to the price of salt, the commissioners spent many hours debating the subject.
- Further rioting followed and the subject was debated in the Reichstag.
Synonyms
discuss, confer about, talk over, talk through, talk about, exchange views on, exchange views about, thrash out, argue, argue about, argue the pros and cons of, dispute, wrangle over, bandy words concerning, contend over, contest, controvert, moot
informal kick around/about, bat around/about
archaic altercate
1.1 [with clause] Consider a possible course of action in one’s mind before reaching a decision: he debated whether he should leave the matter alone or speak to her...
- I can see she is debating whether or not to tell me the truth.
- Sandra paused for a moment and debated in her mind as to whether she should go or not.
- Christine looked at Jacquin, she was debating in her mind if she should talk to him or not.
Synonyms
consider, give some thought to, think over, think about, chew over, mull over, turn over in one's mind, weigh up, ponder, deliberate, reflect, contemplate, muse, meditate, cogitate
archaic pore on
rare cerebrate
Phrases
be open to debate
under debate
Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + battere 'to fight'.
Debate is a word that has undergone a considerable shift in meaning. At its root is Latin battere ‘to fight’, and this was the original English meaning of debate. From that it acquired the sense ‘quarrel’ and ‘dispute’, which rapidly led to the more civilized idea of something deliberated and discussed. The phrase debatable land (Middle English) for borderland claimed by two nations, particularly the area fought over by England and Scotland, keeps the original sense.