debate noun
1 discussion
ADJ. considerable | fierce, heated, intense, lively, vigorous There has been heated debate about whether the film should be allowed. | wider You cannot separate unemployment from the wider debate about the economy. | public Television actually encourages public debate about such issues. | political
VERB + DEBATE have | contribute to Many leading charities have contributed to the debate on world poverty. | encourage, promote A healthy society promotes vigorous debate. | spark off This accident has sparked off an intense debate on road safety. | stifle He accused the government of trying to stifle debate. | lose, win The environmentalists seem to have lost the debate over the building of this road. | be a matter for, be open to The benefits of the new law are open to debate.
DEBATE + VERB rage, take place A debate about safety is taking place in schools everywhere.
PREP. under ~ The issue is still under debate. | ~ about/on/over the debate on the environment | ~ among the debate among academics | ~ surrounding the debate surrounding contemporary art
PHRASES the subject of debate The proposed changes to the law have been the subject of much debate.
2 a formal discussion
ADJ. brief | lengthy, long | acrimonious, fierce, heated, lively, stormy a stormy debate in the House of Commons | congressional, parliamentary a parliamentary debate on the fishing industry
VERB + DEBATE have, hold We had a brief debate about whether or not to accept the offer. The union holds debates for students. | participate in, speak in, take part in Do you ever speak in debates? | open The prime minister will open the debate. | close | lose, win The government lost the debate in the House of Commons.
PREP. during/in a/the~ | ~ about/on Many of these points were raised during the debate on prison reform.
debate verb
ADV. fully, properly, seriously, thoroughly | fiercely, hotly The issue is still being hotly debated. | openly, publicly The question of security needs to be debated publicly. | at length, endlessly, extensively
PREP. with a presidential candidate debating with his opponent He sat there debating with himself what to do.
PHRASES be widely debated The report has been widely debated in the industry.
You can also check other dicts: debate (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition