debate

CEFRB1

/dɪˈbeɪt/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A formal discussion with different opinions.

  2. 02

    verb

    To discuss a question or subject carefully.

Examples

  • Teachers stimulate the students' interest, have them think, ask questions, and debate among themselves.

  • Your decision is open to some debate.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /də-/
  • /di-/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.

  2. To fight.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.

More examples

In context

  • "Debate me, coward!" snarled the completely normal intellectual.

  • After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion.

  • He was debating where he'd spend his holiday.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The panel engaged in a lively blank about climate change.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English debaten, from Old French debatre (“to fight, contend, debate, also literally to beat down”), from Romanic desbattere, from Latin dis- (“apart, in different directions”) + battuō (“to beat, to fence”).