Dictionary    Maps    Thesaurus    Translate    Advanced >   


Tip: Click Thesaurus above for synonyms. Also, follow synonym links within the dictionary to find definitions from other sources.

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
discourse
    n 1: extended verbal expression in speech or writing
    2: an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a
       church service) [syn: sermon, discourse, preaching]
    3: an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with
       some particular topic; "the book contains an excellent
       discussion of modal logic"; "his treatment of the race
       question is badly biased" [syn: discussion, treatment,
       discourse]
    v 1: to consider or examine in speech or writing; "The author
         talks about the different aspects of this question"; "The
         class discussed Dante's `Inferno'" [syn: discourse, talk
         about, discuss]
    2: carry on a conversation [syn: converse, discourse]
    3: talk at length and formally about a topic; "The speaker
       dissertated about the social politics in 18th century
       England" [syn: hold forth, discourse, dissertate]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Discourse \Dis*course"\, n. [L. discursus a running to and fro,
   discourse, fr. discurrere, discursum, to run to and fro, to
   discourse; dis- + currere to run: cf. F. discours. See
   Course.]
   1. The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it
      were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a
      conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning;
      range of reasoning faculty. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of
            natural reason.                       --South.
      [1913 Webster]

            Sure he that made us with such large discourse,
            Looking before and after, gave us not
            That capability and godlike reason
            To fust in us unused.                 --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Conversation; talk.
      [1913 Webster]

            In their discourses after supper.     --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the
            mouth with copious discourse.         --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing.
      [1913 Webster]

            Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a
      given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation;
      sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on
      duty.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse
            Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how
            We got the victory.                   --Beau. & Fl.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Discourse \Dis*course"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Discoursing.]
   1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and
      inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can
      discourse." --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's
      views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold
      forth; to speak; to converse.
      [1913 Webster]

            Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To relate something; to tell. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To treat of something in writing and formally.
      [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Discourse \Dis*course"\, v. t.
   1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently
            and at large discoursed in the book.  --Foxe.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To utter or give forth; to speak.
      [1913 Webster]

            It will discourse most eloquent music. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to
            discourse the minister about it.      --Evelyn.
      [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Discourse:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
accents, act, address, air, amplify, analyze, argue, article, assignment, bandy words, canvass, causerie, chalk talk, chatter, chew the fat, chew the rag, chin, colloque, colloquial discourse, colloquize, colloquy, comment, comment upon, commentate, commerce with, commune with, communicate, communicate with, communication, communion, confab, confabulate, consider, controvert, conversation, converse, converse with, conversing, criticize, deal with, debate, deduction, deductive reasoning, deliberate, deliberate upon, deliver an address, demonstration, descant, develop, dilate, discourse about, discourse of reason, discourse with, discursive reason, discuss, discussion, dispute, disquisition, dissert, dissertate, dissertation, do, elaborate, elocution, enact, enlarge, essay, etude, examination, examine, exchange, exchange views, excursus, exercise, expand, expatiate, explain, exposit, exposition, expound, feature, first approach, gab, give a talk, give-and-take, go into, handle, harangue, hold forth, homework, homily, impersonate, induction, inductive reasoning, inquire into, instruction, intercourse, interlocution, introductory study, investigate, knock around, language, lecture, lecture-demonstration, lesson, logical thought, lucubration, memoir, monograph, moral, moral lesson, morality, moralization, moralize, morceau, note, object lesson, oral communication, orate, outline, palaver, pandect, paper, paragraph, parole, pass under review, perform, perorate, personate, philosophy, piece, platform, play, playact, point a moral, prattle, preach, preachification, preaching, preachment, prelection, preliminary study, prolegomenon, proof, rap, rapping, ratiocination, rationalism, rationality, rationalization, rationalizing, read a lesson, reason, reason about, reason the point, reasonableness, reasoning, recital, recitation, religious discourse, remark, remark upon, research paper, review, rhetoric, screed, sermon, sermonette, sermonize, set task, shoot the breeze, sift, sketch, skull session, soapbox, sophistry, speak, speak with, speaking, special article, specious reasoning, speech, speechify, study, stump, survey, sweet reason, take counsel with, take the floor, take the stump, take up, talk, talk about, talk of, talk over, talk together, talking, task, teaching, term paper, theme, thesis, thresh out, touch upon, tract, tractate, travelogue, treat, treat of, treatise, treatment, utterance, ventilate, verbal intercourse, verbalization, visit with, voice, words, write up, yakkety-yak, yakking
Common Misspellings >
Most Popular Searches: Define Misanthrope, Define Pulchritudinous, Define Happy, Define Veracity, Define Cornucopia, Define Almuerzo, Define Atresic, Define URL, Definitions Of Words, Definition Of Get Up, Definition Of Quid Pro Quo, Definition Of Irreconcilable Differences, Definition Of Word, Synonyms of Repetitive, Synonym Dictionary, Synonym Antonyms. See our main index and map index for more details.

©2011-2024 ZebraWords.com - Define Yourself - The Search for Meanings and Meaning Means I Mean. All content subject to terms and conditions as set out here. Contact Us, peruse our Privacy Policy