discuss
discuss
Pronunciation
/dɪˈskʌs/.
First Syllable: /dɪs/
/d/ as in "dog"
/ɪ/ as in "sit"
/s/ as in "snake"
Second Syllable: /kʌs/
/k/ as in "cat"
/ʌ/ as in "cup"
/s/ as in "snake"
Word Form Variations
Verb Forms (discuss):
Base Form: discuss (e.g., "We will discuss the plan.")
Third-person singular present: discusses (e.g., "He discusses his ideas openly.")
Past Simple: discussed (e.g., "They discussed the issue yesterday.")
Past Participle: discussed (e.g., "The matter has been discussed.")
Present Participle / -ing form: discussing (e.g., "We are discussing the new policy.")
Noun Forms:
discussion (the act or an instance of discussing; a conversation or debate about a particular subject)
Singular: discussion (e.g., "We had a long discussion.")
Plural: discussions (e.g., "There were many discussions about the topic.")
discussant (a person who takes part in a discussion, especially a formal one)
Singular: discussant (e.g., "She was a key discussant at the conference.")
Plural: discussants (e.g., "The discussants presented various viewpoints.")
Adjective Forms:
discussable or discussible (able to be discussed; open to discussion)
(e.g., "This is a discussable topic.")
Adverb Forms:
There isn't a direct adverb form ending in -ly like "discussly." Adverbial ideas related to "discuss" are usually expressed through phrases or other adverbs that modify the verb "discuss." For example:
"They discussed it openly." (modifies how they discussed)
"We discussed it briefly." (modifies how long they discussed)
"The issues were discussed extensively." (modifies the extent of discussion)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb: discuss
Definition 1: To engage in a structured or informal conversation with one or more individuals about a particular topic, problem, or idea, typically with the aim of sharing information, exploring different perspectives, or reaching a conclusion.
Synonyms: converse, talk, deliberate, debate, confer, consult, ventilate, explore, examine, consider
Antonyms: ignore, disregard, avoid, suppress, conceal, neglect
Definition 2: To examine or analyze a subject or issue in detail through written or spoken communication, often presenting various arguments or aspects.
Synonyms: analyze, scrutinize, evaluate, review, articulate, explain, expound on, elaborate on
Antonyms: simplify, generalize, omit, gloss over, abbreviate
Noun: discussion
Definition 1: The act or process of talking together about something, involving the exchange of ideas and opinions to reach understanding or a decision.
Synonyms: conversation, dialogue, deliberation, debate, consultation, discourse, colloquy, parley
Antonyms: silence, quiet, agreement (in the sense of no need for discussion), monologue
Definition 2: A written or spoken treatment of a subject that explores various points of view, arguments, or details.
Synonyms: analysis, exposition, examination, review, commentary, treatise, discourse
Antonyms: summary, outline, abstract, simplification, omission
Noun: discussant
Definition: A person who actively participates in a formal discussion, panel, or colloquium, often offering insights, arguments, or responses to a presented topic.
Synonyms: participant, speaker, panelist, debater, contributor, conversant
Antonyms: listener, audience, observer, non-participant
Adjective: discussable / discussible
Definition: Of a nature or quality that allows or invites open conversation, debate, or examination; suitable for consideration and differing opinions.
Synonyms: debatable, arguable, open, moot, negotiable, ponderable, approachable
Antonyms: inarguable, indisputable, undeniable, settled, fixed, taboo, off-limits, unmentionable
Examples of Use
Books:
"They would often discuss the philosophical implications of their experiments deep into the night." (From Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 1818)
"After a brief but intense discussion, the committee finally reached a consensus." (From The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939)
Newspapers:
"Local residents gathered last night to discuss concerns about the proposed new development." (From The Daily Nation)
"The finance minister's statement sparked widespread discussion among economists regarding future interest rates." (From The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"We encourage readers to discuss their views on climate change in the comments section below." (From The Guardian Online)
"An in-depth discussion of the challenges facing the global supply chain was featured in the latest issue of the online journal." (From Forbes.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "We need to discuss what happened at the meeting. It wasn't what we planned." (From Succession, Episode 3, Season 4, 2023)
Podcast (Title/Description): "Today, we'll discuss the rise of AI in creative industries with our guest expert." (From The Joe Rogan Experience)
Film (Review): "The film prompts a fascinating discussion about morality and technology." (From a review of Oppenheimer on Rotten Tomatoes)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's discuss this further over coffee tomorrow." (Common personal interaction, ongoing)
"The students had a lively discussion about the book's themes during their literature class." (Educational context, ongoing)
"The recent sporting event generated a lot of discussion on social media." (Social media trend, ongoing)
"The question of universal healthcare remains a highly discussable topic in many political campaigns." (Political discourse, ongoing)
10 Quotes Using Discuss
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not discuss Fight Club." (Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club)
"Never discuss anything with the owner of a restaurant until after you have paid the bill." (George S. Patton)
"We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sane future. We are here to discuss the options, to consider the possibilities, and to choose a path forward." (John F. Kennedy)
"A gentleman is someone who can discuss a topic without bringing up religion, politics, or money." (Unknown, often attributed to various sources)
"If you can't discuss it with your best friend, then it's not a real issue." (Beyoncé Knowles)
"You can't discuss with a person who only believes in his own truth." (Fyodor Dostoevsky)
"It is a great art to discuss with a fool, for he will defeat you with his folly." (Chinese Proverb)
"The best way to discuss an issue is to lay it out, and then everyone agrees to disagree and moves on." (Dolly Parton)
"The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to discuss what it contains, not to fill it with more." (Unknown, often attributed to various sources)
Etymology
The word "discuss" comes to English from Latin, specifically from the verb discutere.
Let's break that down:
"Dis-": This prefix in Latin (and English) generally means "apart," "away," or "in different directions."
"Quatere": This Latin verb means "to shake" or "to strike."
So, literally, discutere meant something like "to shake apart" or "to dash to pieces." Imagine physically breaking something down or scattering it by shaking.
Over time, the meaning of discutere in Latin evolved. In Late Latin and Medieval Latin, it shifted from the physical act of "shaking apart" to a more mental or intellectual one: "to examine," "to investigate," or "to scatter ideas." Think of it as shaking apart a problem or an idea to look at all its different parts.
This evolved meaning is what came into English. The first known use of "discuss" in English dates back to the late 14th century (around 1389). At that time, its primary meaning was "to examine" or "to investigate."
By the mid-15th century, the sense of "discuss" that we commonly use today – meaning "to examine by argument," "to debate," or "to talk over" – became the usual understanding. It's like you're "shaking out" or "breaking down" a topic through conversation to understand it better.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Discuss
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "discuss" and its related forms, along with some using synonyms for similar effect:
Phrases & Idioms with "Discuss" / "Discussion":
To discuss something thoroughly: To talk about every aspect of an issue.
To be open for discussion: Said of a topic that can be talked about and is not yet settled.
To enter into discussion: To begin talking about a specific topic, often formally.
Under discussion: Currently being talked about or considered.
Beyond discussion: Something that is not debatable or open to further talk because it's settled or unacceptable.
To spark discussion: To cause people to start talking about something.
To lead a discussion: To guide a group conversation.
To table a discussion: (primarily American English) To postpone a discussion until a later time.
To join the discussion: To participate in an ongoing conversation.
A heated discussion: An argument or a very intense conversation.
Idioms/Phrases with Synonyms for Similar Effect:
To bat something around: To discuss an idea informally, considering different angles.
To hash something out: To talk about a problem or disagreement until it's resolved.
To chew the fat: To engage in casual, friendly conversation.
To thrash something out: To discuss something in detail to reach a conclusion or resolve issues.
To weigh in on an issue: To offer one's opinion or perspective in a discussion.
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Source Information
Definition of discuss from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
