Debate

Definition: Debate

Debate

Noun

1. A discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal; "the argument over foreign aid goes on and on".

2. The formal presentation of and opposition to a stated proposition (usually followed by a vote).

Verb

1. Argue with one another; "We debated the question of abortion"; "John debated Mary".

2. Think about carefully; weigh; "They considered the possibility of a strike"; "Turn the proposal over in your mind".

3. Discuss the pros and cons of an issue.

4. Have an argument about something.

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "debate" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references)

General

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Synonyms: Debate

Contention

Controversy, polemics; debate; (discussion); war of words, logomachy, litigation; paper war; high words; (quarrel); sparring; Verb:

Conversation

Palaver, debate, logomachy, war of words.

Irresolution

Verb: be irresolute; Adjective: hang in suspense, keep in suspense; leave "ad referendum"; think twice about, pause; dawdle; (inactivity); remain neuter; dillydally, hesitate, boggle, hover, dacker, hum and haw, demur, not know one's own mind; debate, balance; dally with, coquet with; will and will not, chaser-balancer; go halfway, compromise, make a compromise; be thrown off one's balance, stagger like a drunken man; be afraid; let "I dare not" wait upon "I would"; falter, waver

Reasoning,

Verb: reason, argue, discuss, debate, dispute, wrangle- argufy, bandy words, bandy arguments; chop logic; hold an argument, carry on an argument; controvert; (deny); canvass; comment upon, moralize upon; spiritualize; consider; (examine).

Argumentation, controversy, debate; polemics, wrangling; contention; logomachy; disputation, disceptation; paper war.

Crosswords: Debate

Portuguese (agitation, argumentation, canvass, contest, controversy, debate, deliberation, discussion, disputation, dispute, moot, parley, question, ventilation), Spanish (contest, debate, discussion).

They want me to get into the character debate and mix it up. (The American President; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin.)

If we had to go through a character debate three years ago, would we have won (The American President; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin)

Major Koslova ends the debate about women in combat as far as I'm concerned (The Jackal; writing credit: Chuck Pfarrer)

I'm not gonna sit here and debate. (Fargo; writing credit: Joel Coen; Ethan Coen)

You're not a loser 'cause you're having sex, but if you weren't having sex, we could definitely debate the issue (Freaks and Geeks; writing credit: Paul Feig; Judd Apatow)

Going to the candidates debate (MRS. ROBINSON; performing artist: Simon and Garfunkel)

So don't debate, a player straight (Pretty Fly; performing artist: The Offspring)

You are an engineer if you carry on a one-hour debate over the expected results of a test that actually takes five minutes to run. (references; author: unknown)

Britain and Canada Debate Britain's World Leadership (1959)

Gran hermano 3: El debate (2002)

The Last Debate (2000)

Redwood Debate (1999)

The Judy Finnigan Debate (1993)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• Burma Debate (reference)

• Debate Feminista (reference)

• Discussion & Debate Manual (reference)

• Ecuador Debate (reference)

• Federalist Debate = Le Debat Federaliste (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

Theater & Movies

• Age of the Earth Debate (reference)

• Debate Made Easy (reference)

• The Great Civil War Debate (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Off the coast of Korea, 28 September 1945. She is flying from her mainmast a U.S. Ensign that flew over the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., during the debate of the United Nations Treaty. Note that she still carries SOC seaplanes. Credit: NAVY.

Interesting debate on the ship purchase bill which closed in the U.S. Senate last evening. Credit: Library of Congress.

The joint debate (Democratic press). Credit: Library of Congress.

I'd like to debate him -- but Congress won't let me!. Credit: Library of Congress.

The debate gets under way. Credit: Library of Congress.

Dr. Straton challenges Darrow to debate. Credit: Library of Congress.

The Last speech on impeachment--Thaddeus Stevens closing the debate in the House, March 2 / sketched by T.R. Davis. Credit: Library of Congress.

A literary debate in the Darktown Club--Settling the question / Tho. Worth. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

This, those who give their votes before they hear the debate, and have weighed the reasons on all sides, are not capable of doing. (Second Treatise of Government)

They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Zaphod wondered what to do about all this, and after a brief but hectic internal debate decided that passing out would be the very thing

Your riches and your enjoyments are advantages that I have over you in the debate, but it is not in good taste to avail myself of them

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

This question has been the subject of public debate. (references)

The medical community, however, continues to debate H. pylori's role in peptic ulcers. (references)

Whether or not Blastocystis hominis can cause symptomatic infection in humans is a point of active debate. (references)

Business

The Church of Scientology continued to be the focus of debate. (references)

The result of the current debate will affect the outlook for pharmaceutical imports. (references)

Faced with strong resistance by pharmacists, this debate is ongoing without any near resolution. (references)

Children

Switzerland

Parliament extended the period for debate of the bill until October 2002. Neither the Government nor the Constitution mandates that buildings or transportation facilities be made accessible, and advocates for persons with disabilities have called for easier access to buildings and public transportation. (references)

Civil Liberties

Chile

Debate continued over the CNT's role during the year. (references)

Hong Kong

There is independent research, a wide range of opinions, and lively debate on campuses. (references)

Economic History

China

However, debate continues over what additional legislation is needed. (references)

Canada

Key to the national unity debate is the ongoing issue of Quebec separatism. (references)

Zambia

Fortunately, the business community does not seem to be seriously affected by this debate. (references)

Human Rights

Mauritania

Dah's case has prompted public debate on ways to further national reconciliation. (references)

Iran

The legitimacy of the Special Clerical Court (SCC) system continued to be a subject of debate. (references)

Cote d'Ivoire

Dispute resolution is by extended debate, with no known instance of resort to physical punishment. (references)

Indigenous People

Australia

In March 2000, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed serious concern that the Government's Native Title amendments would allow the states and territories to pass legislation containing provisions "reducing further the protection of native title claimants." The CERD declared "unsatisfactory" the Government's response to concerns about the Native Title regime expressed in 1999. The Government responded later that year that the laws were passed after full debate in a democratically elected legislature and that the states have a sovereign right to determine land use policy. (references)

Minorities

Kenya

At times the debate has undermined mutual trust. (references)

Haiti

Creole is used in parliamentary debate in the Lower House of Parliament. (references)

Political Economy

Australia

The debate is ongoing. (references)

Georgia

The political elite was absorbed in the debate over this proposal over by the summer. (references)

Finland

Public debate about possible Finnish membership in NATO, which began in 1996, continues. (references)

Political Rights

Malaysia

State assemblies also limited debate. (references)

Paraguay

Debate in Congress is free and frank. (references)

Dominican Republic

Congress provides an open forum for the free exchange of views and debate. (references)

Trade

Russia

The issue is under debate in the Russian government. (references)

Women

El Salvador

Once a taboo social subject, domestic violence increasingly is being recognized publicly and has become a topic for national debate. (references)

Ethiopia

In 1999 the Ministry of Justice completed a revision of the 1957 Penal Code, and a national debate on the revisions continued during the year. (references)

Worker Rights

Denmark

In 2000 a regional conference on trafficking generated considerable public and parliamentary debate. (references)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

A draft Labor Industrial Relations Act under debate includes a proposal for recognition of trade unions. (references)

Honduras

This agreement also incorporated various social commitments by the Government, including the establishment of an Economic and Social Council within which the Government, the private sector, and labor and social groups would debate wages and other labor issues, as well as national social policy. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "debate": be under debate ♦ contribution to a debate ♦ debate a proposal ♦ debate heatedly ♦ debate on question raised in parliament ♦ debate on request ♦ debate on the address ♦ debate on the role of sexes ♦ debate smth. ♦ debate the propriety of an order ♦ debate upon ♦ debate with oneself ♦ hot debate ♦ in debate ♦ lead the debate to the main subject ♦ Parliamentary Debate on the Speech from the Throne ♦ public debate ♦ speak in a debate ♦ speak in debate ♦ under debate. Additional references.

Ending with "debate": Euro-debate, mini-debate, pseudo-debate.

Albanian

diskutoj (assess, canvass, confer, consult, counsel, deliberate, discuss, dispute, expostulate, moot, negotiate, quarrel, reason, talk over, think over, thrash out), diskutim (argument, argumentation, assessment, canvass, contest, contestation, deliberation, discussion, disputation, dispute, eristic, logomachy, talk, treatment), debat (controversy, disputation, dispute, eristic, hassle, proceedings), shqyrtoj (analyse, analyze, assay, bolt, call, canvass, case, check, check over, discuss, explore, inspect, investigate, look into, look over, look through, moot, peruse, process, scrutinize, see, see into, study, talk over, think out, traverse, vet, view), shqyrtim (analysis, assay, canvass, check, checkup, collation, deliberation, discussion, hearing, investigation, probe, processing, scan, scrutiny, study, survey), rrah me mend (mull over), luftoj (combat, contend, correct, dispute, fight, militate, oppugn, ramp, stand up for, strive, struggle, thrash about, war, wrestle), bluaj në mendje, bëj debat (contend). (various references)

Arabic 

‏فكر في الأمر, ‏مناقشة (argumentation, discussion, dispute, talk), ‏مناقشات (discussions, dispute, parley, talks), ‏مناظرة (controversy, discussion, disputation, dispute), ‏نقاش حوار (argument, symposium), ‏ناقش (agitate, argue, bat, canvass, converse, discuss, dispute, join issue with, moot, oppugn, powwow, question, set about, speak, talk, talk over, ventilate), ‏تجادل (argue, dispute, quarrel, squabble, wrangle), ‏جادل (argue, contend, fuss, join issue with, quibble, reason, talk over, urge), ‏جدال (altercation, argument, argute, controversy, dispute), ‏إشترك (collaborate, let in, partake, participate, share). (various references)

Bulgarian 

споря (altercate, argue, cample, contend, contest, dispute, expostulate, higgle, jar, palter, polemize), водя дебати, оспорвам (call down, contest, contravene, controvert, dispute, gainsay, impugn, litigate, oppugn, query, question), обмислям (agitate, bethink, cogitate, consider, deliberate, digest, meditate, mull, ponder, pore, reason, revolve, speculate, study, think about, think out, think over, turn over in one's mind), мисля върху (mull, mull over). (various references)

Chinese 

辩论 (Debated, Debating, teach-in), 辯論 (argue over), 辯 (argue, discuss, dispute), 爭論 (argument, contention, controversy, to argue, to contend, to debate), 便難 (retort with challenging questions), �'� (cough, part. indicating obviousness, to argue). (various references)

Czech

diskutovat (argue, talk), diskuse (discussion, moot, parley, talk), debatovat (canvass, dispute, talk), debata (argument, discussion, disputation, moot, talk), rozprava. (various references)

Danish

debat. (various references)

Dutch

debat. (various references)

Esperanto

debato. (various references)

Farsi 

منازعه (Disputation, Plea, Struggle, Tilt), مناظره کردن , مذاکرات پارلمانی , مباحثه کردن (Dispute, Dissert), بحث (Agument, Controversy, Discussion, Dissertation, Moot, Polemic). (various references)

Finnish

väittely (argument, dispute). (various references)

French

débat, discussion. (various references)

German

Debatte, Wortstreit (dispute), diskussion (argument, discussion, diskussion), auseinandersetzung (analysis, argument, clash, confrontation, contention, difference, discussion, dispute, hassle, partition, quarrel). (various references)

Greek 

συζήτηση (argument, argumentation, controversy, conversation, deliberation, discussion, disputation, dispute, disquisitional, question). (various references)

Hebrew 

לפלפל (argue, search), ל�"תוכח (argue, discuss, dispute, join issue with, plead), ל�"ת� צח (argue, dispute, polemize, spar, struggle, wrangle, wrestle), ויכוח (argument), וכוח (altercation, argument, argumentation, contention, controversy, discussion, disputation, moot, polemic), פלפול (argumentation, casuistry, dispute), �"יון (advisement, consideration, deliberation, discussion, symposium). (various references)

Hungarian

vita (argument, battle of words, contention, contest, controversy, discussion, disputation, dispute, hassle, moot, parley, polemics, quarrel, reasoning, snap). (various references)

Indonesian

debat, perdebatan (argue, controversy, discussion), membantahkan (dispute), berdebat-debat. (various references)

Italian

dibattito (controversy, discussion). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

論 (argument, comment, controversy, discourse, discussion, dispute, doctrine, essay, theory, treatise), 討議　 (discussion), 討議 (discussion), 討論会 (forum, panel discussion), 討論 (discussion), ディーゼル電気車 (daemon, daily news, day, day and date, day bed, day pack, day'n'date, dealer, debug, debugger, decay, decentralization, deduction, deep, deep kiss, default, defender, Defender Plan, defense, definition, delay, delayed steal, delay-line, demand-pull inflation, deoxyribo, depletion, deregulation, deschooling, describe, descriptor, destination, destructor, detail, detector, Deus, developer, device, dictionary, dieldrin, diesel electric car, differential gear, differentiation, diffusion index, digital, digital camera, digital voltmeter, dilettante, dilettantism, dimension, diminuendo, dimple, dinghy, dinner, dinner dress, dinner jacket, dinner party, dinner set, dinner suit, dip, diploma, director, directory, disc jockey, disclosure, Discman, disco, disco sound, discography, disconnect, discontinue, discotheque, discount, discount sale, discount store, discover, discoverer, discrete, discussion, disinflation, disk, disk brake, disk jockey, diskette, diskless, diskman, Disney, Disneyland, dispatch, dispatcher, dispel, dispenser, displacement, display, disposer, disrupt, dissolve, distance, distortion, distribution, distributor, disturb, divertimento, divided skirt, divider, divot, French kiss), 法案審議 (discussion), 弁論　 (argument, discussion), 弁論 (argument, discussion), 付議 (bring up a matter, discussion). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

ディベート , べ�"ろ�" (argument, discussion), ふぎ (adultery, bring up a matter, bringing up or submitting for discussion, discussion, immorality, impropriety, injustice, misconduct, perfidy), ほうあ�"し�"ぎ (discussion), ろ�" (argument, comment, controversy, discourse, discussion, dispute, doctrine, essay, theory, treatise), とうぎ (a party council, competition, contest, discussion, party conference), とうろ�"かい (forum, panel discussion), とうろ�" (discussion). (various references)

Korean 

� � (Debating, Discussing). (various references)

Manx

ronsaghey (beat for game, consult; consultation, examine, explore, forage, frisk, investigate, look into, ransack, rifle, rummage, scrutinize, scrutinizing, search, searching), resooney (argue, argument, deduction, dialectic, dialectics, reason, reasoning, remonstrate), resoonaght (discussion, judiciousness, logistics, reasonableness), arganey (argue, beyond dispute, challenge, reason). (various references)

Norwegian

debatt. (various references)

Papiamen

debat. (various references)

Pig Latin

ebateday.(various references)

Portuguese

debate (agitation, argumentation, canvass, contest, controversy, deliberation, discussion, disputation, dispute, moot, parley, question, ventilation), discussão (agitation, argument, canvass, controversy, deliberation, discussion, disputation, quarrel, scene, skirmish, strife, talk, ventilation, words, wrangle). (various references)

Romanian

disputa (claim, contest, dispute, oppugn, strive), discuţie (altercation, argument, argumentation, canvass, confabulation, conversation, counsel, dialogue, discourse, discussion, dispute, quarrel, reasoning, row, splutter, talk), dezbatere (agitation, canvass, deliberation, discussion, dispute, fencing, quarrel), dezbate (agitate, argue, beat out, break, canvass, contest, controvert, criticize, dispute, fall, review), delibera (deliberate), polemiza (polemize), pertracta (negotiate), medita (brood, coach, cogitate, contemplate, meditate, muse, reflect, ruminate, study for, study on, think, tutor), frãmânta (agitate, beat, brake, bustle, churn, fret, fuss, knead, puddle, pug, ride, stamp, stir, temper, torment, torture, worry), examina (canvass, comb, consider, contemplate, examine, explore, go over, inspect, investigate, look at, look over, observe, overhaul, overlook, peer, pry into, quiz, review, scout, scrutinize, search, study, talk over, verify, view, visit, weigh), controversã (argument, contention, contest, controversy, disputation, dispute), considera (call, consider, count, deem, describe as, esteem, examine, fancy, feel, find, give smb. credit for, guess, hold, interpret, judge, make, make out, personalize, put, rank, rate, regard, see, think), consfãtuire (conference, deliberation). (various references)

Russian 

спорить (argue, be at cross-purposes, bicker, chop logic, contest, dispute, haggle, wrangle), рассматривать (account, consider, descry, envisage, espy, examine, eye, give consideration to, judge, look on, look upon, regard, review, scrutinize, see into, study, view, viewed), обсуждать дискуссия, обсуждать (canvass, confer, confer together, discuss, discussing, dispute, moot, take up, talk over, think over, traverse, ventilate), обдумывать (chew, cogitate, cogitated, cogitating, consider, contemplate, deliberate, mull, perpend, ponder, premeditate, think of), дискутировать (discuss, dispute, moot, talk over). (various references)

Scottish

deasbud (a dispute, conference, dispute), tagair (argue, claim, plead). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

debata, razmišljati (cogitate, contemplate, deliberate, meditate, mull over, muse, ponder, reflect, ruminate, speculate, think over), raspravljati (agitate, argue, discuss, polemicize, talk over), premišljati (brood, ponder), argumentacija (argumentation). (various references)

Spanish

debate (contest, discussion). (various references)

Swedish

debatt (discussion), diskussion (discussion), debattera (discuss). (various references)

Turkish

dikkate almak (consider, consult, deem, Mark, pay attention to, reckon among, reckon with, regard, take account of, take cognizance of, take into account, take notice), danışmak (advise with, confer, consult, deliberate, take one's advice, turn to), düşünüp taşınmak (calculate, chew, cogitate, cogitate over, debate with oneself, look round, mull over, ponder, ponder over, pore, reason, reason out, reflect, revolve, ruminate, think over, turn over, turn over in one's mind, weigh, worry out), tartışmak (altercate, argue, bat around, Bicker, brawl, bust, canvass, challenge, contend, controvert, discuss, dispute, have a row with, have a set-to, have words with smb., jangle, join issue with smb., moot, negotiate, set to, spar, take issue with smb., wrangle), tartışma (altercation, argument, argumentation, bickering, brawl, breeze, broil, bust up, contention, contest, contestation, controversy, cross talk, disagreement, discussion, disputation, dispute, hassle, jangle, moot, parley, quarrel, rap, row, set to, shooting match, spar, sparring, teach-in, wordy warfare, wrangle), müzakere (discussion, negotiation, powwow), görüşme (bargaining, conference, conversation, discussion, disputation, hearing, intercourse, interview, meeting, negotiation, parley, rap, talk), çekişmek (chaffer, compete, conflict, contend, contest, dispute, higgle, quarrel, rival, strive with), çekişme (bickering, chaffer, cliffhanger, competition, conflict, contention, contest, contestation, controversy, duel, fight, quarreling, rivalry, strife, tug of war). (various references)

Turkmen 

oяlanmak (reason), jedel (argument), зekisme (discussion), зekiюmeler, зekiюme etme. (various references)

Ukrainian

суперечка (beef, contest, controversy, disagreement, ergotism, spar, sparring, tussle, variance, words), обговорювати (air, bandy about, canvass, confer, consider, dispute, moot, natter, parley, reason, ventilate), обдумувати (balance, cogitate, ponder, weigh), боротьба (battle, campaign, combat, effort, fight, fighting, grapple, strife, struggle, tussle, war, warfare, wrestle, wrestling), боротися (antagonize, battle, buffet, champion, combat, contend, fight, grapple, militate, oppugn, strive, struggle, take on, tussle, wrestle), полеміка (ergotism, polemic), дебатувати (canvass), дебати (discussion), дискусія (argument, controversy, deliberation, discussion), дискутувати (discuss, talk over). (various references)

Vietnamese 

cuộc tranh luận (contest, disputation), cuộc thảo luận (discussion). (various references)

Welsh

dadlau (advocate, argue, plead), dadl (argument, controversy, doubt, plea). (various references)

concertatur, confero, controversia, disceptabo, disceptaremini, disceptarent, disceptaret, disceptatio, disputabat, disputando, disputans, disputante, disputantes, disputare, disputatio, disputationi, disputavit, disputem. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Derivations

Words beginning with "debate": debated, debatement, debatements, debater, debaters, debates. (additional references)

Words ending with "debate": outdebate, postdebate. (additional references)

Words containing "debate": outdebated, outdebates. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Debate" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: dabate, Dbauto, Deba, debace, debait, debart, debat, debatee, Debati, debatle, debeat, debectib, Debele, debet, debiet, debita, debite, debito, debitum, deblate, debmat, debole, debone, debue, debuet, debute, debutee, decate, Decatex, Defaite, defaute, degate, Dembele, denate, d'etate, diate, diebate, dirate, duate, febantel, feebate, Neubaten. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-1 letter: bated.

-2 letters: abed, abet, bade, bate, bead, beat, beet, beta, date, debt, deet, teed.

-3 letters: ate, bad, bat, bed, bee, bet, dab, deb, dee, eat, eta, tab, tad, tae, tea, ted, tee.

-4 letters: ab, ad, ae, at, ba, be, de, ed, et, ta.

+1 letter: abetted, bedmate, belated, berated, bestead, betaxed, bleated, debated, debater, debates, jetbead, rebated, tabered.

+2 letters: abductee, absented, bantered, bartered, basseted, battened, battered, beadiest, bedmates, bedplate, bedstead, besteads, bethesda, betrayed, breasted, breathed, dateable, deadbeat, deathbed, debaters, diabetes, editable, jetbeads, rabbeted, rebaited, tableted, waterbed.

+3 letters: abductees, aberrated, abnegated, abreacted, absterged, acerbated, banqueted, bartended, bartender, bassetted, bayoneted, beatified, beatitude, bedlamite, bedplates, bedsteads, belatedly, bepainted, besteaded, bethanked, bethesdas, blanketed, blathered, blattered, bracketed, butadiene, deadbeats, deathbeds, debarment, debatable, debutante, detonable, embattled, extubated, hebetated, liberated, outbeamed, outdebate, redbaited, redbreast, speedboat, streambed, tabletted, trabeated, tradeable, waterbeds.