English edit

Etymology edit

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) + battuere (to beat, to fence).

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈbeɪt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈbeɪt/, /di-/, /də-/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪt

Noun edit

debate (countable and uncountable, plural debates)

  1. An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people, generally ending with a vote or other decision.
    After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion.
  2. An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views.
    The debate over the age of the universe is thousands of years old.
    There was a bit of a debate over who should pay for the damaged fence.
    • 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
      The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use.
  3. (uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.
    There has been considerable debate concerning exactly how to format these articles.
    • 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
      Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: [] . The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.
  4. (frequently in the French form débat) A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin.
  5. (obsolete) Strife, discord.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb edit

debate (third-person singular simple present debates, present participle debating, simple past and past participle debated)

  1. (transitive, intransitive, reciprocal) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena. [from 14th c.]
    "Debate me, coward!" snarled the completely normal intellectual.
  2. (obsolete, intransitive, reciprocal) To fight. [14th–17th c.]
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.viii:
      Well knew they both his person, sith of late / With him in bloudie armes they rashly did debate.
    • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 15:
      [] wasteful Time debateth with Decay,
      To change your day of youth to sullied night
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To engage in combat for; to strive for.
    • 1838, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic. [], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: American Stationers’ Company; John B. Russell, →OCLC:
      Volunteers [] thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardour in Spain as on the plains of Palestine.
  4. (transitive) To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide
    He was debating where he'd spend his holiday.

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Albanian edit

Noun edit

debate m pl

  1. indefinite plural of debat

Portuguese edit

Pronunciation edit

 

Etymology 1 edit

Deverbal from debater or borrowed from French débat.

Noun edit

debate m (plural debates)

  1. debate
Quotations edit

For quotations using this term, see Citations:debate.

Etymology 2 edit

Verb edit

debate

  1. inflection of debater:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative
Quotations edit

For quotations using this term, see Citations:debate.

Spanish edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /deˈbate/ [d̪eˈβ̞a.t̪e]
  • Audio (Venezuela):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ate
  • Syllabification: de‧ba‧te

Etymology 1 edit

Deverbal from debatir.

Noun edit

debate m (plural debates)

  1. debate
  2. discussion
    Synonym: discusión

Etymology 2 edit

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb edit

debate

  1. inflection of debatir:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading edit

Tagalog edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Spanish debate.

Pronunciation edit

  • Hyphenation: de‧ba‧te
  • IPA(key): /deˈbate/, [dɛˈba.tɛ]

Noun edit

debate (Baybayin spelling ᜇᜒᜊᜆᜒ)

  1. debate; heated discussion
    Synonyms: pagtatalo, pagkakatwiranan, pangangatwiranan

Derived terms edit