debate

debate
debater, n.debatingly, adv.
/di bayt"/, n., v., debated, debating.
n.
1. a discussion, as of a public question in an assembly, involving opposing viewpoints: a debate in the Senate on farm price supports.
2. a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.
3. deliberation; consideration.
4. Archaic. strife; contention.
v.i.
5. to engage in argument or discussion, as in a legislative or public assembly: When we left, the men were still debating.
6. to participate in a formal debate.
7. to deliberate; consider: I debated with myself whether to tell them the truth or not.
8. Obs. to fight; quarrel.
v.t.
9. to argue or discuss (a question, issue, or the like), as in a legislative or public assembly: They debated the matter of free will.
10. to dispute or disagree about: The homeowners debated the value of a road on the island.
11. to engage in formal argumentation or disputation with (another person, group, etc.): Jones will debate Smith. Harvard will debate Princeton.
12. to deliberate upon; consider: He debated his decision in the matter.
13. Archaic. to contend for or over.
[1250-1300; (v.) ME debaten < OF debatre, equiv. to de- DE- + batre to beat < L battere, earlier battuere; (n.) ME debat < OF, deriv. of debatre]
Syn. 1. argument, controversy, disputation, contention. 5. dispute, contend. See argue.

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      formal, oral confrontation between two individuals, teams, or groups who present arguments (argument) to support opposing sides of a question, generally according to a set form or procedure.

      In the House of Commons (Commons, House of) each bill presented is given three readings, each of which provides the opportunity and the occasion for a debate of the principle involved or of specific clauses. In the U.S. Congress a similar procedure is followed with a specific time limit set in the House for debating legislation. The Senate has no time limit and the general practice is to debate a measure until everyone has expressed a view before a vote is taken.

      Formal debates, as held in schools, societies, or on radio or television, generally conform to the following procedures: the topic is stated as a positive resolution—for example, “Resolved: Strikes Should be Outlawed”; two teams, usually of two members each, argue for and against the resolution; each team receives equal time, a first period—usually 10 to 15 minutes for each speaker—to present its side and then a shorter period to rebut the opposing side; the order of speakers alternates by team, with the affirmative side initiating the argument and, as a rule, the negative side initiating the rebuttal; arguments take the form of contentions supported by evidence, and in the rebuttal, though new evidence may be introduced, no new contentions may be raised; a neutral moderator acts as chairman of the debate.

      Because of limited time, formal debate does not allow thorough exploration of complex problems; rather, it is conceived as an exercise that may serve to sharpen forensic abilities and, like a chess match, provide intellectual entertainment for nonparticipants. Usually, in a well-conducted debate, speakers are either emotionally uncommitted or can preserve sufficient detachment to maintain a coolly academic approach.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Debate — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para el concepto de debate científico, véase consenso científico. Debate presidencial chileno, 17 de noviembre de 2005. Es una técnica de comunicación oral donde se expone un tema y una …   Wikipedia Español

  • Debate — De*bate , n. [F. d[ e]bat, fr. d[ e]battre. See {Debate}, v. t.] 1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • debate — I verb agitate, altercate, argue, argue pros and cons, attempt to disprove, bandy, battle verbally, canvass, confer with, confute, consider, consult with, contend, contest, controvert, deliberate, disagree, discept, discuss, dispute, engage in… …   Law dictionary

  • Debate — De*bate , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Debated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Debating}.] [OF. debatre, F. d[ e]battre; L. de + batuere to beat. See {Batter}, v. t., and cf. {Abate}.] 1. To engage in combat for; to strive for. [1913 Webster] Volunteers . . .… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • débâté — débâté, ée (dé bâ té, tée) part. passé. À qui on a ôté son bât. Un âne débâté.    Fig. C est un âne débâté, c est un homme très porté aux plaisirs de l amour …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • debate — sustantivo masculino 1. Diferencia de opinión sobre una cosa que mantienen varias personas: En la televisión hay un debate sobre las pensiones. El gobierno no ha decidido nada, el asunto está sometido a debate todavía …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • debate — ► NOUN 1) a formal discussion in a public meeting or legislature, in which opposing arguments are presented. 2) an argument. ► VERB 1) discuss or argue about. 2) consider; ponder. ● under debate Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • debate — [dē bāt′, dibāt′] vi. debated, debating [ME debaten < OFr debatre, to fight, contend, debate: see DE & BATTER1] 1. to discuss opposing reasons; argue 2. to take part in a formal discussion or a contest in which opposing sides of a question are …   English World dictionary

  • Debate — De*bate , v. i. 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Well could he tourney and in lists debate. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • debate — n disputation, forensic, *argumentation, dialectic Analogous words: controversy, *argument, dispute: contention, dis sension (see DISCORD) debate vb dispute, argue, *discuss, agitate Analogous words: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • debate — [n] discussion of issues; consideration agitation, altercation, argument, argumentation, blah blah*, cogitation, contention, contest, controversy, controverting, deliberation, dialectic, disputation, dispute, forensic, hassle, match, meditation,… …   New thesaurus

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