discourse

dis·course

 (dĭs′kôrs′)

n.

1. Verbal expression in speech or writing: political discourse.

2. Verbal exchange or conversation: listened to their discourse on foreign policy.

3. A formal, lengthy treatment of a subject, either written or spoken.

4. Archaic The process or power of reasoning.

v. (dĭ-skôrs′) dis·coursed, dis·cours·ing, dis·cours·es

v.intr.

1. To speak or write formally and at length. See Synonyms at speak.

2. To engage in conversation or discussion; converse: "The two men walked around the city and discoursed on its antiquities" (Michael Wood).

v.tr. Archaic

To narrate or discuss.

---

[Middle English discours, process of reasoning, from Medieval Latin discursus, from Latin, a running about, from past participle of discurrere, to run about : dis-, apart; see dis- + currere, to run; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]

---

dis·cours′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

discourse

n

1. verbal communication; talk; conversation

2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation

3. (Linguistics) a unit of text used by linguists for the analysis of linguistic phenomena that range over more than one sentence

4. archaic the ability to reason or the reasoning process

vb

5. (intr; often foll by on or upon) to speak or write (about) formally and extensively

6. (intr) to hold a discussion

7. (Music, other) (tr) archaic to give forth (music)

[C14: from Medieval Latin discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from discurrere to run different ways, from dis-¹ + currere to run]

disˈcourser n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dis•course

(n. ˈdɪs kɔrs, -koʊrs, dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs; v. dɪsˈkɔrs, -ˈkoʊrs)

n., v. -coursed, -cours•ing. n.

1. communication of thought by words; talk; conversation.

2. a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a treatise or sermon.

3. any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.

v.i.

4. to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.

5. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

[1325–75; Middle English discours < Medieval Latin discursus (sp. by influence of Middle English cours course), Late Latin: conversation, Latin: running to and fro]

dis•cours′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

discourse

Past participle: discoursed
Gerund: discoursing

Imperative

discourse

discourse

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	discourse - extended verbal expression in speech or writing language unit, linguistic unit - one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed context, context of use, linguistic context - discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation
	2.	discourse - an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service) preaching, sermon church service, church - a service conducted in a house of worship; "don't be late for church" speech, address - the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience; "he listened to an address on minor Roman poets" baccalaureate - a farewell sermon to a graduating class at their commencement ceremonies kerugma, kerygma - preaching the gospel of Christ in the manner of the early church evangelism - zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel homily, preachment - a sermon on a moral or religious topic
	3.	discourse - 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" discussion, treatment communicating, communication - the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information; "they could not act without official communication from Moscow" detail - extended treatment of particulars; "the essay contained too much detail" dilation - a lengthy discussion (spoken or written) on a particular topic consideration - a discussion of a topic (as in a meeting); "consideration of the traffic problem took more than an hour" talk - discussion; (`talk about' is a less formal alternative for `discussion of'); "his poetry contains much talk about love and anger" elaboration, enlargement, expansion - a discussion that provides additional information
Verb	1.	discourse - to consider or examine in speech or writing; "The author talks about the different aspects of this question"; "The class discussed Dante's `Inferno'" discuss, talk about deal, plow, handle, treat, cover, address - act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression; "This book deals with incest"; "The course covered all of Western Civilization"; "The new book treats the history of China" descant - talk at great length about something of one's interest talk shop - discuss matters that are related to work; "As soon as they met, the linguists started to talk shop"
	2.	discourse - carry on a conversation converse argue, contend, debate, fence - have an argument about something interview, question - conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting interview - discuss formally with (somebody) for the purpose of an evaluation; "We interviewed the job candidates" interview - go for an interview in the hope of being hired; "The job candidate interviewed everywhere" talk, speak - exchange thoughts; talk with; "We often talk business"; "Actions talk louder than words" chew the fat, chitchat, chit-chat, claver, confab, jaw, natter, shoot the breeze, chat, chaffer, confabulate, gossip, chatter, visit - talk socially without exchanging too much information; "the men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze"
	3.	discourse - talk at length and formally about a topic; "The speaker dissertated about the social politics in 18th century England" dissertate, hold forth talk, speak - exchange thoughts; talk with; "We often talk business"; "Actions talk louder than words"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

discourse

noun

1. conversation, talk, discussion, speech, communication, chat, dialogue, converse a tradition of political discourse

2. speech, talk, address, essay, lecture, sermon, treatise, dissertation, homily, oration, disquisition He responds with a lengthy discourse on deployment strategy.

verb

1. talk, speak, discuss, debate, confer, converse, declaim, hold forth, expatiate He discoursed for several hours on English prose.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

discourse

noun

1. The faculty, act, or product of speaking:

speech, talk, utterance, verbalization, vocalization.

2. Spoken exchange:

chat, colloquy, confabulation, conversation, converse, dialogue, speech, talk.

Informal: confab.

Slang: jaw.

3. A formal, lengthy exposition of a topic:

disquisition, dissertation, treatise.

verb

To engage in spoken exchange:

chat, confabulate, converse, speak, talk.

Informal: confab, visit.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

DiskursRedereden

διαλέγομαιδιάλεξηομιλίασυνομιλία

discurso

discoursdisserterconférence

שיח

discorsodissertazione

会話会談対話

discursodiscussão

discourse

A. [ˈdɪskɔːs] N

1. (= talk) → conversación f, plática f (LAm)

2. (= essay) → tratado m

3. (Ling) → discurso m

B. [dɪsˈkɔːs] VI to discourse (up)on sth → disertar sobre algo

C. [ˈdɪskɔːs] CPD discourse analysis N → análisis m inv del discurso

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

discourse

[ˈdɪskɔː^rs]

n

(communication between people) → conversation m
political discourse → débat m politique

(LINGUISTICS) → discours m

(= speech) → discours m (= piece of writing) → dissertation f

[dɪsˈkɔː^rs] vi (formal) → discourir
to discourse on sth → discourir sur qch

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

discourse

n → Diskurs m (geh)

vi → einen Diskurs geben (geh); (= converse) → einen Diskurs führen (geh)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

discourse

[ˈdiskɔːs]

1. n

a. (disquisition) → dissertazione f

b. (conversation) → conversazione f; (written) → dissertazione f

2. vi to discourse on/upon → dissertare su

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995