debate

A2 Topic:People & Society

US /dɪˈbeɪt/ UK /dɪˈbeɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #4717

Meanings

1

noun
A formal discussion in which people give opposing views, often ending in a vote.

There was a lively debate in parliament about the new law.
2

noun
Discussion or argument about a subject where people disagree.

There is much debate about the causes of climate change.
3

verb
To discuss or argue about a subject, often formally.

The students debated the question of free education.
4

verb
To think carefully about something before deciding.

She debated whether to accept the new job.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to discuss or argue about a... argue contend

Word family

Forms debateddebaterdebatesdebating

Derived forms antidebatedebatabilitydebatable debatefuldebategatedebatelorddebaterdebateydebatinglymake-debatemetadebatenondebate

Related forms abate batter battery battle combat debatabledebation

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

public debate
an organized exchange of opposing arguments presented before an audience

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Debate ultimately derives from Latin battere “to fight,” and its original English meaning was literal fighting. It then came to mean a quarrel or dispute and eventually the more orderly deliberation and discussion of an issue.

Etymology

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”).

debaten Middle English debatre Old French dis- Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Register & Style

External links

# debate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈbeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈbeɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 4717

## Meanings
1. A formal discussion in which people give opposing views, often ending in a vote.
2. Discussion or argument about a subject where people disagree.
3. To discuss or argue about a subject, often formally.
4. To think carefully about something before deciding.

## Examples
- There was a lively debate in parliament about the new law.
- There is much debate about the causes of climate change.
- The students debated the question of free education.
- She debated whether to accept the new job.

## Derived Forms
- antidebate
- debatability
- debatable
- debateful
- debategate
- debatelord
- debater
- debatey
- debatingly
- make-debate
- metadebate
- nondebate

## Related Forms
- abate
- batter
- battery
- battle
- combat
- debatable
- debation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: debaten
- Root: debatre
- Root: dis-

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
debate comes 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”). The historical chain includes Middle English debaten, Old French debatre, Latin dis-. Current senses include A formal discussion in which people give opposing views, often ending in a vote and Discussion or argument about a subject where people disagree. English relatives and later formations include antidebate, debatability, debatable, abate, batter.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Register & Style

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