debate meaning
EN
[dɪˈbeɪt] [-eɪt] 
US WDebate
- Debate is contention in argument; strife, dissension, quarrelling, controversy; especially a formal discussion of subjects before a public assembly or legislature, in Parliament or in any deliberative assembly.
- Debate is a method of interactive and representational argument.
- Debating is commonly carried out in many assemblies of various types to discuss matters and to make resolutions about action to be taken, often by a vote.
- Although informal debate is common, the quality and depth of a debate improves with knowledge and skill of its participants as debaters. The outcome of a contest may be decided by audience vote, by judges, or by some combination of the two.
- NounPLdebatesPREdé-SUF-ate
- (obsolete) Strife, discord.
- An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people, generally ending with a vote or other decision.
- After a four-hour debate, the committee voted to table the motion.
- An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views.
- The debate over the age of the universe is thousands of years old.
- There was a bit of a debate over who should pay for the damaged fence.
- (uncountable) Discussion of opposing views.
- There has been considerable debate concerning exactly how to format these articles.
- (Frequently in French form débat) A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin.
- (obsolete) Strife, discord.
- VerbSGdebatesPRdebatingPT, PPdebated
- (transitive, intransitive) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.
- (obsolete, intransitive) To fight.
- (obsolete, transitive) To engage in combat for; to strive for.
- (transitive) To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide.
- (transitive, intransitive) To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena.
- More Examples
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
- There is a debate whether or not to legalise some of the softer drugs.
- While others debated the proposals, he stood back.
- On the whole, Dyke’s book is an important contribution to debates about philosophical methodology, truthmaking, and ontology.
- Used in the Beginning of Sentence
- Debate on the Kellogg Mar renunciation treaty dragged on in the senate today with no immediate prospect of final action.
- Used in the Ending of Sentence
- Though only a student, he contributed informedly to the political debate.
- The teachers at this school tend to force-feed their students information, rather than encourage critical thinking and debate.
- She rudely talked over her opponent in the debate.
- Used in the Middle of Sentence
Definition of debate in English Dictionary
- Part-of-Speech Hierarchy
- Nouns
- Countable nouns
- Singularia tantum
- Uncountable nouns
- Uncountable nouns
- Countable nouns
- Verbs
- Intransitive verbs
- Transitive verbs
- Intransitive verbs
- Nouns
Source: Wiktionary
Grammatically, this word "debate" is a noun, more specifically, a countable noun and a singularia tantum. It's also a verb, more specifically, an intransitive verb and a transitive verb.