argument

ar·gu·ment  (ärgy-mnt)

n.

1.

a. A discussion in which disagreement is expressed; a debate.

b. A quarrel; a dispute.

c. Archaic A reason or matter for dispute or contention: "sheath'd their swords for lack of argument" (Shakespeare).

2.

a. A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood: presented a careful argument for extraterrestrial life.

b. A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason: The current low mortgage rates are an argument for buying a house now.

c. A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.

3.

a. A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.

b. A topic; a subject: "You and love are still my argument" (Shakespeare).

4. Logic The minor premise in a syllogism.

5. Mathematics

a. An independent variable of a function.

b. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.

6. Computer Science A value used to evaluate a procedure or subroutine.

7. Linguistics In generative grammar, any of various positions occupied by a noun phrase in a sentence.

---

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin argmentum, from arguere, to make clear; see argue.]

Synonyms: argument, dispute, controversy
These nouns denote discussion involving conflicting points of view. Argument stresses the advancement by each side of facts and reasons intended to persuade the other side: Emotions are seldom swayed by argument.
Dispute implies animosity: A dispute arose among union members about the terms of the new contract.
Controversy applies especially to major differences of opinion involving large groups of people: The use of nuclear power is the subject of widespread controversy.

---

argument [ˈɑːgjʊmənt]

n

1. a quarrel; altercation

2. a discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a proposition, proposal, or case; debate the argument on birth control will never be concluded

3. (sometimes plural) a point or series of reasons presented to support or oppose a proposition

4. a summary of the plot or subject of a book, etc.

5. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic

a.  a process of deductive or inductive reasoning that purports to show its conclusion to be true

b.  formally, a sequence of statements one of which is the conclusion and the remainder the premises

6. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic an obsolete name for the middle term of a syllogism

7. (Mathematics) Maths

a.  an element to which an operation, function, predicate, etc., applies, esp the independent variable of a function

b.  another name for amplitude (sense 5) of a complex number

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	argument - a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true; "it was a strong argument that his hypothesis was true" statement evidence - an indication that makes something evident; "his trembling was evidence of his fear" proof - a formal series of statements showing that if one thing is true something else necessarily follows from it counterargument - an argument offered in opposition to another argument pro - an argument in favor of a proposal con - an argument opposed to a proposal case - a statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument; "he stated his case clearly" clincher, determiner, determining factor - an argument that is conclusive adducing - citing as evidence or proof last word - the final statement in a verbal argument; "she always gets the last word" specious argument - an argument that appears good at first view but is really fallacious
	2.	argument - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument" contestation, controversy, disceptation, arguing, contention, disputation, tilt difference of opinion, dispute, difference, conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats" argle-bargle, argy-bargy - a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument firestorm - an outburst of controversy; "the incident triggered a political firestorm" sparring - an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantage polemic - a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma) fight - an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate"
	3.	argument - a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal; "the argument over foreign aid goes on and on" argumentation, debate give-and-take, discussion, word - an exchange of views on some topic; "we had a good discussion"; "we had a word or two about it" logomachy - argument about words or the meaning of words
	4.	argument - a summary of the subject or plot of a literary work or play or movie; "the editor added the argument to the poem" literary argument sum-up, summary - a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form; "he gave a summary of the conclusions"
	5.	argument - (computer science) a reference or value that is passed to a function, procedure, subroutine, command, or program parameter value - a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed; "the value assigned was 16 milliseconds" computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures address, computer address, reference - (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
	6.	argument - a variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value determines the dependent variable; if f(x)=y, x is the independent variable variable quantity, variable - a quantity that can assume any of a set of values
	7.	argument - a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the methodical process of logical reasoning; "I can't follow your line of reasoning" line of reasoning, logical argument, argumentation, line abstract thought, logical thinking, reasoning - thinking that is coherent and logical line of inquiry, line of questioning - an ordering of questions so as to develop a particular argument casuistry - argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading policy - a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government; "they debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation"

---

argument

noun

1. reason, case, reasoning, ground(s), defence, excuse, logic, justification, rationale, polemic, dialectic, line of reasoning, argumentation There's a strong argument for lowering the price.

2. debate, questioning, claim, row, discussion, dispute, controversy, pleading, plea, contention, assertion, polemic, altercation, remonstrance, expostulation, remonstration The issue has caused heated political argument.

3. quarrel, fight, row, clash, dispute, controversy, disagreement, misunderstanding, feud, barney (informal), squabble, wrangle, bickering, difference of opinion, tiff, altercation She got into a heated argument with a stranger.
quarrel accord, agreement, concurrence

without argument without question, without debate, without confusion, without dispute, without query, without contention He complied without argument.

Quotations
"Argument seldom convinces anyone contrary to his inclinations" [Thomas Fuller Gnomologia]
"The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress" [Joseph Joubert Pensées]

Translations

argument [ˈɑːgjʊmənt] N

1. (= disagreement) → discusión f; (= fight) → pelea f
I don't want any argument (about it) → no quiero discutir, no hay discusión que valga
to get into an argument (with sb) → empezar a discutir(con algn)
to have an argument (with sb) → discutir(con algn); (more heatedly) → pelearse(con algn)
we had an argument about money → tuvimos una discusión or discutimos por razones de dinero
let's not have an argument about it → no discutamos
there was an argument over the missing plate → hubo una discusión sobre el plato que faltaba
you've only heard one side of the argument → tú sólo conoces una cara del asunto
he had an argument with a wall (hum) → se dio contra la pared

2. (= debate) → polémica f
there is some argument as to whether or not it's possible → hay bastante polémica sobre si es posible o no
she is open to argument → está dispuesta a discutirlo
the conclusion is open to argument → la conclusión se presta a discusión or es discutible
to win/lose an argument → ganar/perder(en)un enfrentamiento
see also sake

3. (= case) → argumento m, razones fpl
there is a strong argument for or in favour of doing nothing → existen argumentos or razones de peso para or en favor de no hacer nada
an argument could be made for government intervention → se podrían alegar razones para la intervención del gobierno

4. (= reasoning) → razonamiento m
if you take this argument one step further → si llevas el razonamiento un poco más allá
his argument is that → él sostiene que ...
see also line ¹ A11

5. (= synopsis) → argumento m, resumen m

6. (Jur) opening argument → exposición f inicial
closing argument → conclusiones fpl finales

---

argument [ˈɑː^rgjʊmənt] n

(= reasons) → argument m
argument for sth → argument pour qch
argument against sth → argument contre qch

(= quarrel) → dispute f
to have an argument → se disputer
They had an argument → Ils se sont disputés.
to get into an argument → se disputer

(= debate) → discussion f, controverse f

---

argument

n

(= discussion) → Diskussion f; to spend hours in argument about how to do something → stundenlang darüber diskutieren, wie man etw macht; for the sake of argument → rein theoretisch; he just said that for the sake of argument → das hat er nur gesagt, um etwas (dagegen) zu sagen; it is beyond argument → das ist unbestreitbar; he is open to argument → er lässt mit sich reden; this is open to argument → darüber lässt sich streiten

(= quarrel) → Auseinandersetzung f; to have an argument → sich streiten; (over sth trivial) → sich zanken; without argument → widerspruchslos

(= reason) → Beweis(grund) m, → Argument nt; (= line of reasoning) → Argumentation f, → Beweisführung f; first state your theory, then list the arguments for and against → stellen Sie erst Ihre These auf und nennen Sie dann die Gründe und Gegengründe; one of the best arguments I have heard in favour (Brit) or favor (US) of private education → eines der besten Argumente zugunsten or zu Gunsten der Privatschule, die ich gehört habe; there’s an even stronger argument than that → es gibt ein noch stärkeres Argument; that’s not a rational argument, it’s just a dogmatic assertion → das ist kein rationales Argument, das ist bloß eine dogmatische Behauptung

(= theme: of play, book etc) → Aussage f, → These f (esp Philos); (= claim) → These f

(= statement of proof) → Beweis m; the two main types of argument → die beiden wichtigsten Beweisarten; Professor Ayer’s argument is that … → Professor Ayers These lautet, dass …; the Ontological/Teleological Argument → der ontologische/teleologische Gottesbeweis; all the various arguments for the existence of a god → all die verschiedenen Gottesbeweise; I don’t think that’s a valid argument → ich glaube, das ist kein gültiger Beweis; an interesting argument → eine interessante These

(Math) → Argument nt

---

argument [ˈɑːgjʊmənt] n

a. (reasons) → argomento, ragione f, motivo
argument for/against → argomento a or in favore di/contro
I don't follow your argument → non ti seguo

b. (discussion) → discussione f, dibattito; (quarrel) → litigio, lite f
to hear both sides of the argument → ascoltare entrambe le versioni

---

argument → مشادة كلامية hádka argument Streit επιχείρημα discusión kiista dispute argument discussione 口論 논쟁 ruzie diskusjon spór argumento, discussão ссора gräl การโต้เถียง tartışma sự tranh luận 争论