discussion
Talking something through
Discussion is the exchange of ideas through conversation, often to reach understanding or make decisions: We need to have a discussion about the budget.
Unlike debate, discussion implies collaborative exploration rather than opposing sides.
The word covers everything from casual talks to formal meetings: The matter is still under discussion.
To table something for discussion is to put it on the agenda.
Exchange of spoken ideas
- talkVerbal exchange between people
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
interaction · communication · colloquy · confabulation · banter · rapport · heart-to-heart · tête-à-tête
Distinct flat section
- roundtableLeaderless group discussion
- symposiumFormal expert discussion meeting
- seminarGroup discussion for learning
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
summit · workshop · assembly · convention · gathering · session · hearing · plenary
General group agreement
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
review · scrutiny · exploration · inquiry · weighing · reflection · planning · strategy
Mental creations or plans
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
analysis · insight · perspective · viewpoint · opinion · interpretation · hypothesis · conjecture
Reasoned case or dispute
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- counterargumentPoint challenging another's position
- refutationDisproving a statement
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
thesis · antithesis · dialectic · persuasion · rhetoric · disputation · contention · disagreement
Verbal clash over differences
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- discordLack of agreement
- conflictOpposition between parties
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
friction · tension · dissension · clash · strife · quarrel · feud · squabble
conversation
Exchange of spoken ideas
- talkVerbal exchange between people
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
exchange · interaction · communication · colloquy · confabulation · banter · rapport · heart-to-heart · tête-à-tête · back-and-forth
panel
Distinct flat section
- roundtableLeaderless group discussion
- symposiumFormal expert discussion meeting
- seminarGroup discussion for learning
conference · summit · workshop · assembly · convention · gathering · session · hearing · plenary · conclave
consensus
General group agreement
- considerationCareful thought or compensation
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- analysisMethodical study of parts
assessment · review · scrutiny · exploration · inquiry · weighing · reflection · planning · strategy · synthesis
ideas
Mental creations or plans
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
reasoning · analysis · insight · perspective · viewpoint · opinion · interpretation · hypothesis · conjecture · speculation
argument
Reasoned case or dispute
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- counterargumentPoint challenging another's position
- refutationDisproving a statement
proposition · thesis · antithesis · dialectic · persuasion · rhetoric · disputation · contention · disagreement · opposition
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- discordLack of agreement
- conflictOpposition between parties
contention · friction · tension · dissension · clash · strife · quarrel · feud · squabble · bickering
- classroomdesk, desks, chair, chairs, teacher
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- communicationsannouncement, telephone, address, phone, key messages
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- teachingteaching, lesson plans, instructing, educating, courses
discussiondecision
Settled course of action
conclusion · resolution · agreement · verdict · settlement
discussionsecrecy
Practice of hiding information
silence · concealment · suppression · cover-up · censorship
- end of discussionTermination of argument
- up for discussion
- discussion groupsOrganized talking sessions
- panel discussionOrganized multi-speaker talk
- class discussionStudents debating course material
- discussion boardOnline conversation platform