argument
/ˈɑːgjʊmənt/noun
1
- an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one激烈的争吵, 争执; 争论：
I've had an argument with my father
我跟我父亲吵了一场
heated arguments over public spending
关于公共开支的激烈争论
mass noun there was some argument about the decision.对于这一决定发生了一些争论。
2
- a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong理由, 证据, 说理, 论证：
there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal
有充足理由提出正式上诉
with clause he rejected the argument that keeping the facility would be costly.对于维持设施花费巨大这一理由他表示不接受。
3
- Mathematics & Logic an independent variable associated with a function or proposition and determining its value. For example, in the expression y = F(x, x2), the arguments of the function F are x1 and x2, and the value is y.【数, 逻】自变数。
3.2
- Linguistics any of the noun phrases in a clause that are related directly to the verb, typically the subject, direct object, and indirect object【语言学】主词, 受词（多指主语、直接宾语和间接宾语）。
4
- archaic a summary of the subject matter of a book〈古〉书的内容提要。
短语
for the sake of argument
- as a basis for discussion or reasoning作为讨论（或论证）的基础。
词源
Middle English （in the sense 'process of reasoning'）： via Old French from Latin argumentum, from arguere 'make clear， prove， accuse'.