debate

de|bate1 [ dı`beıt ] noun ***

count or uncount a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions about a subject:

debate about/on/over: There has been intense debate over the handling of illegal immigrants.

(a) lively/heated/fierce/intense debate: The proposals provoked a fierce debate.

be the subject of much/some debate: Her books have been the subject of much debate.

a. count a formal discussion that ends with a decision made by voting:

debate about/on something: an emergency debate on the future of the peace talks

a matter for/of debate

something that people have different opinions about and argue about

open to debate

if something is open to debate, it is not certain or not yet decided, because people have different opinions about it

debate

de|bate 2 [ dı`beıt ] verb intransitive or transitive **

1. ) if people debate a subject, they discuss it formally before making a decision, usually by voting:

Congress is still debating the bill.

hotly debated (=with very strong opposing opinions): This is one of the most hotly debated issues today.

debate whether: The two sides debated whether to raise taxes.

2. ) to consider an action or situation carefully before you decide what to do:

I debated whether or not to call her parents.

debate what: He stopped and debated what to do next.

debate doing something: She debated leaving without saying anything, but decided against it.

╾ de|bat|ing adjective:

a debating team