Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - debate

 I. noun  Date: 13th century a contention by words or arguments: as  a. the formal discussion of a motion before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure  b. a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides  II. verb  (~d; debating)  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French debatre, from de- + batre to beat, from Latin battuere  Date: 14th century  intransitive verb  1. obsolete fight, contend  2.  a. to contend in words  b. to discuss a question by considering opposed arguments  3. to participate in a ~  transitive verb  1.  a. to argue about the subject was hotly ~d  b. to engage (an opponent) in ~  2. to turn over in one's mind he's still debating what to do  Synonyms: see discuss  • ~ment noun  • ~r noun