WHAT IS A DEBATE?
debate
de·bate | \ di-ˈbāt , dē-\
Definition of debate
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a contention by words or argumentsOur polite chat about politics became a heated debate.The case sparked a raging public debate on property rights.: such as
a: a regulated discussion of a proposition (see PROPOSITION entry 1 sense 1b) between two matched sidesthe last presidential debate before the electionthe debate‘s moderator
blaw, government : the formal discussion of a motion (see MOTION entry 1 sense 3a) before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure
debate
debated; debating
Definition of debate (Entry 2 of 2)
1a: to argue aboutthe subject was hotly debated
b: to engage (an opponent) in debatea governor debating her challenger
2: to turn over in one’s mind : to think about (something, such as different options) in order to decidestill debating what to do
1: to participate in a debatethe six primary candidates who debated last night
2a: to contend in words
b: to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments
debate
[ dih-beyt ]