Main Entry: ²debate

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): de·bat·ed; de·bat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French debatre, from de- + batre to beat, from Latin battuere

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 obsolete : fight, contend
2 a : to contend in words b : to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments
3 : to participate in a debatetransitive 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>

synonyms see discuss

— de·bate·ment \-ˈbāt-mənt\ noun

— de·bat·er noun