de·bate

noun

OPAL W

/dɪˈbeɪt/

[countable, uncountable]

a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposite views and then there is often a vote on the issue.（在公共集会上或议会里就某问题进行的、常以表决结束的）辩论
- the first ever televised presidential debate有史以来首次电视直播的总统辩论
- The minister opened the debate (= was the first to speak).部长在辩论时率先发言。
- After a long debate, Congress approved the proposal.经过长时间辩论，国会通过了这项提议。
- debate on something a debate on transport policy关于运输政策的辩论
- under debate The motion under debate (= being discussed) was put to a vote.辩论中的动议已付诸表决。
Synonyms discussion
discussionconversation ▪ dialogue ▪ talk ▪ debate ▪ consultation ▪ chat ▪ gossipThese are all words for an occasion when people talk about something.
discussion a detailed conversation about something that is considered to be important:
Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders.两位领导人仍在进行讨论。
conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way:
a telephone conversation电话交谈
dialogue conversations in a book, play or film:
The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue.这部小说描述多对话少。
A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute:
The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.总统告诉等候的记者，刚才进行了一次富有建设性的对话。
talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or something important for the people involved:
I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects.我和老板就我的事业前景进行了一次长谈。
debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue:
a debate on prison reform关于监狱制度改革的辩论
consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about something:
There have been extensive consultations between the two countries.两国之间进行了广泛磋商。
chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking. The countable use of chat is especially British English: I just called in for a chat about the kids. gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives:
We had a good gossip about the boss.我们讲了好一会儿老板的闲话。
Patterns
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about something
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on something
- in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation with somebody
- to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip with somebody
- to hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation
Collocations Politics
PoliticsPower
- create/form/be the leader of a political party
- gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
- start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
- be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
- lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
- seize/take control of the government/power
- bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
- abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
- establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
- be forced/removed/driven from office/power
- resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister
- enter/retire from/return to political life
Political debate
- spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
- engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over something)
- get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
- launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
- join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
- criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
- lobby/put pressure on the government (to do something)
- come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
Policy
- call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
- formulate/implement domestic economic policy
- change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
- be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
- reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
- privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
- invest (heavily) in/spend something on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
- nationalize the banks/the oil industry
- promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
- a/the budget is approved/ (especially North American English) passed by parliament/congress
Making laws
- have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate
- propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution
- introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures
- amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
- veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
- get/require/be decided by a majority vote
Wordfinder
- argument
- ayes
- chair
- debate
- the floor
- motion
- propose
- second
- speak
- vote
Extra Examples
- a debate on prison reform关于监狱制度改革的辩论
- The president will open the debate.总统将首先发言，拉开辩论的序幕。
- The environmentalists seem to have lost the debate over the building of this road.环保人士似乎在修建公路的争论中败下阵来。
- The poll showed that the Democrat won last night's presidential debate.民意调查显示民主党赢得了昨晚的总统辩论。
- Many of these points were raised during the debate on prison reform.这些问题中有许多都是在关于监狱改革的辩论中提出来的。
- The debate focused on who should pay for the changes.争论的焦点在于由谁来支付这些变动所需的费用。
- legislative debates over gay marriage同性恋婚姻的立法辩论
- a parliamentary debate on the fishing industry关于渔业的议会辩论
- Experts pore over the President's debate performances.专家们关注总统在辩论中的表现。
- The union holds debates for students.协会举办了学生辩论会。
- The motion under debate was put to a vote.辩论中的动议已付诸表决。
- Three major issues have dominated the education debate.三项主要议题主导了教育讨论。
Topics Politicsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- brief
- lengthy
- long
- …
verb + debate
- have
- hold
- host
- …
debate + noun
- moderator
- coach
- team
- …
preposition
- during a/the debate
- in a/the debate
- debate about
- …
an argument or a discussion expressing different opinions（各自发表不同意见的）争论，辩论，讨论
- The issue has sparked debate across the industry.这个问题在整个行业引发了争论。
- to provoke/stimulate debate引起／激起争论
- a fierce/vigorous debate激烈的辩论
- The theatre's future is a subject of lively public debate.剧院的未来是公众热烈辩论的话题。
- Intense political debate focused on the merits of the two alternative schemes.激烈的政治辩论集中在两个备选方案的优点上。
- debate about something There has been heated debate about whether the film should be allowed.关于是否应该允许这部电影上映，人们进行了激烈的辩论。
- debate on something There has been much debate on the issue of childcare.人们对儿童照管问题议论纷纷。
- debate over something the ongoing debate over American foreign policy关于美国对外政策的持续辩论
- Whether he deserved what happened to him is open to debate (= cannot be certain or decided yet).他是否罪有应得还有待讨论。
- under debate The issue is still under debate.这个问题仍存在争论。
Extra Examples
- The proposed changes to the law have been the subject of much debate.对这部法律提出的修改意见引发了大家的诸多议论。
- the debate surrounding contemporary art围绕当代艺术的讨论
- the growing debate on school reform关于学校改革越来越多的争论
- Many leading charities have contributed to the debate on world poverty.许多主要慈善团体都参加了有关世界贫困问题的讨论。
- You cannot separate unemployment from the wider debate about the economy.不能将失业与更广泛的经济问题方面的讨论分割开来。
- We had a brief debate about whether or not to accept the offer.关于是否接受提议，我们进行了简短的辩论。
- This accident has sparked off an intense debate on road safety.这次事故引发了有关道路安全问题的热烈讨论。
- These events shifted debate from economic issues to social ones.这些事件使讨论从经济问题转移到社会问题。
- The nature of this book is to provoke reasoned debate.本书旨在引发理性的讨论。
- The incident has reignited public debate over the role of teachers.这一事件重新引发了公众对教师角色的讨论。
- The club started admitting women in 1901 after years of bitter debate.经过多年激烈的争论，俱乐部终于在 1901 年开始允许女性加入。
- He was reluctant to enter the debate for or against war.他不大情愿加入支持还是反对战争的辩论。
- He accused the government of trying to stifle debate.他谴责政府试图压制讨论。
- Efforts to reduce the budget have led to a lot of internal debate at the studio.削减预算的努力引起了工作室内部广泛的辩论。
- What went on behind the scenes remains a matter for debate .幕后发生的事情仍然是一个有争议的问题。
Topics Opinion and argumentb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- considerable
- growing
- fierce
- …
verb + debate
- have
- contribute to
- enter
- …
debate + verb
- occur
- take place
- rage
- …
preposition
- under debate
- debate about
- debate on
- …
phrases
- the subject of debate

Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + battere ‘to fight’.

de·bate

verb

/dɪˈbeɪt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they debate	/dɪˈbeɪt/ /dɪˈbeɪt/
he / she / it debates	/dɪˈbeɪts/ /dɪˈbeɪts/
past simple debated	/dɪˈbeɪtɪd/ /dɪˈbeɪtɪd/
past participle debated	/dɪˈbeɪtɪd/ /dɪˈbeɪtɪd/
-ing form debating	/dɪˈbeɪtɪŋ/ /dɪˈbeɪtɪŋ/

[transitive, intransitive] to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution（尤指正式）讨论，辩论 synonym discuss
- debate (something) Politicians will be debating the bill later this week.政界将在本周晚些时候讨论这个议案。
- It is time to debate the issue of school funding.该是讨论一下学校经费问题的时候了。
- They debated endlessly, without ever reaching a decision.他们没完没了地辩论，一直未能作出决定。
- The question of the origin of the universe is still hotly debated (= strongly argued about) by scientists.关于宇宙起源问题，科学家仍在激烈辩论。
- to be openly/widely/publicly debated受到公开／广泛讨论
- debate whether, what, etc… The committee will debate whether to lower the age of club membership to 16.委员会将讨论是否把参加俱乐部的年龄限制放宽到 16 岁。
Synonyms talk
talkdiscuss ▪ speak ▪ communicate ▪ debate ▪ consultThese words all mean to share news, information, ideas or feelings with another person or other people, especially by talking with them.
talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas:
We talked on the phone for over an hour.我们在电话里谈了一个多小时。
discuss (rather formal) to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide something:
Have you discussed the problem with anyone? 你与谁商量过这个问题吗？
You cannot say ‘discuss about something’: I’m not prepared to discuss about this on the phone. speak to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody:
I’ve spoken to the manager about it.那件事我已经和经理谈过了。
‘Can I speak to Susan?’ ‘Speaking.’ (= at the beginning of a phone conversation)“请让苏珊接电话好吗？”“我就是。”
talk or speak?Speak can suggest a more formal level of communication than talk. You speak to somebody about something to try to achieve a particular goal or to tell them to do something. You talk to somebody in order to be friendly or to ask their advice: Have you talked to your parents about the problems you’re having? • I’ve spoken to Ed about it and he’s promised not to let it happen again.
communicate (rather formal) to exchange information or ideas with somebody:
We only communicate by email.我们只是互通电邮。
Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other.海豚用声音相互沟通。
Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used.debate to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution:
Politicians will be debating the bill later this week.政界将在本周晚些时候讨论这个议案。
consult (rather formal) to discuss something with somebody in order to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision:
You shouldn’t have done it without consulting me.你不该不和我商量就做。
Patterns
- to talk/discuss something/speak/communicate/debate/consult with somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody
- to talk/speak to somebody/consult somebody about something
- to talk/speak of something
Extra Examples
- The question of security needs to be debated publicly.安全问题需要公开讨论。
- The report has been widely debated in the industry.这份报告在行业内得到广泛讨论。
- a presidential candidate debating with his opponent与对手辩论的总统候选人
Topics Opinion and argumentb2, Politicsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- fully
- properly
- seriously
- …
preposition
- with
phrases
- be widely debated
[intransitive, transitive] to think carefully about something before making a decision仔细考虑；思考；盘算
- debate (with yourself) She debated with herself for a while, and then picked up the phone.她仔细琢磨了一会儿，然后拿起了电话。
- debate whether, what, etc… We're debating whether or not to go skiing this winter.我们盘算着今年冬天是否去滑雪。
- debate doing something For a moment he debated going after her.他仔细思考了片刻要不要去追求她。

Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + battere ‘to fight’.