Dictionary
1debate
noun de·bate \di-ˈbāt, dē-\
: a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something
Full Definition of DEBATE
: a contention by words or arguments: as a : the formal discussion of a motion before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure b : a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides
See debate defined for English-language learners
See debate defined for kids
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First Known Use of DEBATE
13th century
Related to DEBATE
- Synonyms
- account, advisement, consideration, deliberation, reflection, study, thought
- Antonyms
- short shrift
Rhymes with DEBATE
abate, ablate, adnate, aerate, age-mate, agnate, airdate, airfreight, alate, arête, await, backdate, baldpate, bandmate, baseplate, bedmate, bedplate, berate, birthrate, bistate, bite plate, blank slate, blind date, blue plate, bookplate, breastplate, casemate, castrate, caudate, cell plate, cerate, cheapskate, checkmate, chelate, chordate, citrate, classmate, clavate, cognate, collate, comate, conflate, connate, Cook Strait, cordate, create, cremate, crenate, curate, cut-rate, deadweight, death rate, deflate, delate, dentate, derate, dictate, dilate, disrate, donate, doorplate, downstate, drawplate, elate, end plate, equate, estate, faceplate, falcate, fellate, filtrate, first-rate, fishplate, fixate, flatmate, floodgate, fluxgate, flyweight, folate, formate, frustrate, gelate, gestate, ground state, gyrate, hamate, hastate, headgate, Hell Gate, helpmate, home plate, hot plate, housemate, hydrate, ice-skate, inflate, ingrate, inmate, innate, instate, irate, jailbait, Kuwait, lactate, lapse rate, legate, liftgate, ligate, lightweight, liquate, lobate, locate, lunate, lustrate, lych-gate, lyrate, magnate, makebate, makeweight, mandate, messmate, migrate, misstate, mutate, nameplate, narrate, negate, Newgate, nitrate, notate, nutate, oblate, of late, orate, ornate, ovate, palmate, palpate, peltate, phonate, pinnate, placate, playdate, playmate, plicate, portrait, postdate, predate, prime rate, probate, prolate, pronate, prorate, prostate, prostrate, punctate, pupate, quadrate, rain date, ramate, rebate, red-bait, relate, restate, roommate, rostrate, rotate, saccate, schoolmate, seatmate, sedate, sensate, septate, serrate, shipmate, short weight, slave state, soleplate, soul mate, spectate, spicate, squamate, stagnate, stalemate, stellate, striate, sublate, substrate, sulcate, summate, tailgate, teammate, Tebet, tenth-rate, ternate, terneplate, testate, third-rate, tinplate, to date, toeplate, tollgate, tractate, translate, tristate, truncate, unweight, update, uprate, upstate, V-8, vacate, vallate, valvate, vibrate, virgate, vulgate, whitebait, workmate
2debate
verb
: to discuss (something) with people whose opinions are different from your own
: to compete against (someone) in a debate : to argue against another person's opinions as part of an organized event
: to think about (something) in order to decide what to do
de·bat·edde·bat·ing
Full Definition of DEBATE
intransitive verb
2
a : to contend in words b : to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments
3
: to participate in a debate
transitive verb
1
a : to argue about <the subject was hotly debated> b : to engage (an opponent) in debate
2
: to turn over in one's mind <he's still debating what to do>
— de·bate·ment \-ˈbāt-mənt\ noun
— de·bat·er noun
See debate defined for English-language learners
Origin of DEBATE
Middle English, from Anglo-French debatre, from de- + batre to beat, from Latin battuere
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to DEBATE
- Synonyms
- chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, ponder, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)
Synonym Discussion of DEBATE
discuss, argue, debate mean to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince. discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con <discussed the need for a new highway>. argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held <argued that the project would be too costly>. debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties <debated the merits of the amendment>; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself <I'm debating whether I should go>.
DEBATEMENT Defined for Kids
1debate
noun de·bate \di-ˈbāt\
Definition of DEBATE for Kids
1
: a discussion or argument carried on between two teams or sides
2
: a discussion of issues <We had a debate over where to go on vacation.>
2debate
verb
de·bat·edde·bat·ing
Definition of DEBATE for Kids
1
: to discuss a question by giving arguments on both sides : take part in a debate
2
: to consider reasons for and against : give serious and careful thought to <Mrs. Welsch seemed to be debating whether to say what she finally did. — Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy>
— de·bat·er noun
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