a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
deliberation; consideration.
Archaic. strife; contention.
verb (used without object),de·bat·ed,de·bat·ing.
to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.
to participate in a formal debate.
to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
Obsolete. to fight; quarrel.
verb (used with object),de·bat·ed,de·bat·ing.
to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.
to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.
Archaic. to contend for or over.
Origin of debate
1250–1300; (v.) Middle English debaten<Old French debatre, equivalent to de-de- + batre to beat <Latin battere, earlier battuere; (noun) Middle English debat<Old French, derivative of debatre
non·de·bat·ing,adjectiveout·de·bate,verb (used with object),out·de·bat·ed,out·de·bat·ing.o·ver·de·bate,verb,o·ver·de·bat·ed,o·ver·de·bat·ing.post·de·bate,adjectivepre·de·bate,nounpre·de·bat·er,nounre·de·bate,noun,verb,re·de·bat·ed,re·de·bat·ing.un·de·bat·ed,adjectiveun·de·bat·ing,adjectivewell-de·bat·ed,adjective