debate
noun [ C or U ] uk/dɪˈbeɪt/ us/dɪˈbeɪt/
B2 谈论，讨论;争论，辩论
(a) serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part
Education is the current focus of public debate. 教育是目前大众谈论的焦点。
How we proceed from here is a matter for debate. 我们下一步怎样做还需要讨论。
Over the year we have had several debates about future policy. 一年来，我们就未来的政策进行了几次讨论。
- More examples
- The debate completely changed course after Liz made her speech.
- The debate about food safety has engaged the whole nation.
- She issued a challenge to her rival candidates to take part in a public debate.
- The prison riots have sharpened the debate about how prisons should be run.
- This proposal will almost certainly spark another countrywide debate about how to organize the school system.
debate
verb uk/dɪˈbeɪt/ us/dɪˈbeɪt/
C2 [ I or T ]讨论;争论
to discuss a subject in a formal way
In Parliament today, MPs debated the Finance Bill. 今天在议会上议员们讨论了财政法案。
They had been debating for several hours without reaching a conclusion. 他们已经争论了好几个小时，仍然没有得出一个结论。
[ + question word ] The authorities debated whether to build a new car park. 政府有关部门就是否要修建一座新停车场进行了讨论。
[ T ]斟酌;考虑
to try to make a decision about something
[ + question word ] We debated whether to take the earlier train. 我们考虑到底要不要乘早一点的那次列车。
I'm still debating what colour to paint the walls. 我还在考虑要把墙刷成什么颜色。
- More examples
- The matter was hotly debated in all the towns of the realm.
- There was no seconder for the motion so it could not be debated.
- The ethics of journalism are much debated.
- They were debating the proposition that 'All people are created equal'.
- I'm still debating whether to take the job or not.