discussion: There was a lot of discussion about the wording of the report.
argument: The issue has caused heated political argument.
dispute: They have won previous pay disputes with the government.
controversy: The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy. VERB 3
discuss: I will be discussing the situation with colleagues tomorrow.
thrash out: …a sincere effort by two people to thrash out differences.
argue: They were still arguing; I could hear them down the road.
wrangle: A group of MPs is still wrangling with the government over the timing of elections.
de|bat|er /d I be I tə r / (debaters ) N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] A debater is someone who takes part in debates. □ They are skilled debaters.
de|bauched /d I bɔː tʃt/ ADJ If you describe someone as debauched , you mean they behave in a way that you think is socially unacceptable, for example because they drink a lot of alcohol or have sex with a lot of people. [OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a debt-ridden and debauched lifestyle.
de|bauch|ery /d I bɔː tʃəri/ N‑UNCOUNT You use debauchery to refer to the drinking of alcohol or to sexual activity if you disapprove of it or regard it as excessive. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …scenes of drunkenness and debauchery.
de|ben|ture /d I be ntʃə r / (debentures ) N‑COUNT A debenture is a type of savings bond which offers a fixed rate of interest over a long period. Debentures are usually issued by a company or a government agency. [BUSINESS ]
de|bili|tate /d I b I l I te I t/ (debilitates , debilitating , debilitated )
1 VERB [usu passive] If you are debilitated by something such as an illness, it causes your body or mind to become gradually weaker. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + by ] Stewart took over yesterday when Russell was debilitated by a stomach virus. ● de|bili|tat|ing ADJ □ …a debilitating illness. ● de|bili|tat|ed ADJ □ Occasionally a patient is so debilitated that he must be fed intravenously.
2 VERB To debilitate an organization, society, or government means to gradually make it weaker. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …their efforts to debilitate the political will of the Western alliance. ● de|bili|tat|ing ADJ □ …years of debilitating economic crisis. ● de|bili|tat|ed ADJ □ …the debilitated ruling party.
de|bil|ity /d I b I l I ti/ (debilities ) N‑VAR Debility is a weakness of a person's body or mind, especially one caused by an illness. [FORMAL ] □ …exhaustion or post-viral debility.
deb|it /de b I t/ (debits , debiting , debited )
1 VERB When your bank debits your account, money is taken from it and paid to someone else. □ [V n] We will always confirm the revised amount to you in writing before debiting your account.
2 N‑COUNT A debit is a record of the money taken from your bank account, for example when you write a cheque. □ The total of debits must balance the total of credits.
3 → see also direct debit
de b|it card (debit cards ) N‑COUNT A debit card is a bank card that you can use to pay for things. When you use it the money is taken out of your bank account immediately.
debo|nair /de bəneə r / ADJ A man who is debonair is confident, charming, and well-dressed. □ He was a handsome, debonair, death-defying racing-driver.
de|brief /diː briː f/ (debriefs , debriefing , debriefed ) VERB When someone such as a soldier, diplomat, or astronaut is debriefed , they are asked to give a report on an operation or task that they have just completed. □ [be V -ed] The men have been debriefed by British and Saudi officials. □ [V n] He went to Rio after the CIA had debriefed him.
de|brief|ing /diː briː f I ŋ/ (debriefings ) N‑VAR A debriefing is a meeting where someone such as a soldier, diplomat, or astronaut is asked to give a report on an operation or task that they have just completed. □ A debriefing would follow this operation, to determine where it went wrong.
de|bris /de I bri, [AM ] de I briː / N‑UNCOUNT Debris is pieces from something that has been destroyed or pieces of rubbish or unwanted material that are spread around. □ A number of people were killed by flying debris.
debt ◆◆◇ /de t/ (debts )
1 N‑VAR A debt is a sum of money that you owe someone. □ Three years later, he is still paying off his debts. □ …reducing the country's $18 billion foreign debt.
2 → see also bad debt
3 N‑UNCOUNT Debt is the state of owing money. □ Stress is a main reason for debt. ● PHRASE If you are in debt or get into debt , you owe money. If you are out of debt or get out of debt , you succeed in paying all the money that you owe. □ He was already deeply in debt through gambling losses. □ How can I accumulate enough cash to get out of debt?
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft in poss N ] You use debt in expressions such as I owe you a debt or I am in your debt when you are expressing gratitude for something that someone has done for you. [FORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ He was so good to me that I can never repay the debt I owe him. COLLOCATIONS debt NOUN 1
noun + debt : bank, government, sovereign; credit card, household, mortgage, student
adjective + debt : bad, crippling, toxic; manageable, outstanding, sustainable, unsecured, unsustainable; national