Etimology
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”).
noun
debate (countable and uncountable, plural debates)
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.
An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views.
(uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.
(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.
(obsolete) Strife, discord.
Examples
After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion.
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.
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.
There has been considerable debate concerning exactly how to format these articles.
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.
verb
debate (third-person singular simple present debates, present participle debating, simple past and past participle debated)
(transitive, intransitive, reciprocal) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena. [from 14th c.]
(obsolete, intransitive, reciprocal) To fight. [14th–17th c.]
(obsolete, transitive) To engage in combat for; to strive for.
(transitive) To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide
Examples
"Debate me, coward!" snarled the completely normal intellectual.
a wise council […] that did debate this business
Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself.
He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends.
When the legislation was debated by the House of Commons, Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said it was "riddled with holes", while former Conservative Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was "badly written".
Well knew they both his person, sith of late / With him in bloudie armes they rashly did debate.
[…] wasteful Time debateth with Decay,To change your day of youth to sullied night
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.
He was debating where he'd spend his holiday.
Related words
related terms
abate
batter
battery
battle
combat
debatable
debation