"debates" in the noun sense
1. argument, argumentation, debate
a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal
"the argument over foreign aid goes on and on"
2. debate, disputation, public debate
the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote)
"debates" in the verb sense
1. debate
argue with one another
"We debated the question of abortion"
"John debated Mary"
2. consider, debate, moot, turn over, deliberate
think about carefully weigh
"They considered the possibility of a strike"
"Turn the proposal over in your mind"
3. debate, deliberate
discuss the pros and cons of an issue
4. argue, contend, debate, fence
have an argument about something
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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