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⇱ discourse - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


discourse

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations noun: /ˈdɪskɔːrs/, verb: /dɪsˈkɔːrs/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/n. ˈdɪskɔrs v. dɪsˈkɔrs/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(n. diskôrs, -kōrs, dis kôrs, -kōrs; v. dis kôrs, -kōrs)


Inflections of 'discourse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
discourses
v 3rd person singular
discoursing
v pres p
discoursed
v past
discoursed
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•course /n. ˈdɪskɔrs v. dɪsˈkɔrs/USA pronunciation   n., v., -coursed, -cours•ing. 
n. 
  1. communication of thought by words;
    talk;
    conversation:[uncountable]The lawyers enjoyed the time spent on intelligent discourse.
  2. a formal discussion of a subject, such as an essay or sermon:[countable]a long discourse on the evils of drugs.

v. [+ on + object]
  1. to treat a subject formally in speech or writing:The paper discourses at length on how students from different language backgrounds make the same kinds of mistakes in the use of articles.
See -cour-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•course  (n. diskôrs, -kōrs, dis kôrs, -kōrs;v. dis kôrs, -kōrs),USA pronunciation n., v., -coursed, -cours•ing. 
n. 
  1. communication of thought by words;
    talk;
    conversation:earnest and intelligent discourse.
  2. a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
  3. Linguisticsany unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.

v.i. 
  1. to communicate thoughts orally;
    talk;
    converse.
  2. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.

v.t. 
  1. to utter or give forth (musical sounds).
  • Medieval Latin discursus (spelling, spelled by influence of Middle English cours course), Late Latin: conversation, Latin: a running to and fro, equivalent. to discur(rere) to run about (dis- dis-1 + currere to run) + -sus for -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
  • Middle English discours 1325–75
dis•courser, n. 
    1. discussion, colloquy, dialogue, chat, parley.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
discourse n /ˈdɪskɔːs; dɪsˈkɔːs/
  1. verbal communication; talk; conversation
  2. a formal treatment of a subject in speech or writing, such as a sermon or dissertation
  3. 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 /dɪsˈkɔːs/
  1. (intransitive; often followed by on or upon) to speak or write (about) formally and extensively
  2. (intransitive) to hold a discussion
  3. (transitive) archaic to give forth (music)
Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin discursus argument, from Latin: a running to and fro, from discurrere to run different ways, from dis-1 + currere to run
'discourse' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: an [intelligent, intellectual] discourse (on), discourse at great length, engage in discourse with, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "discourse" in the title:

A concept exists by the discourse...
being sexuality a construction inseparable from the discourse on power within such is established
beyond the fray of normal discourse
bourgeois-academic discourse
Buddhist terms had entered her discourse
capacity for introducing ... , or influencing the lifespan of[,] discourse referents
Carving (out) a critical discourse ?
Chinese Discourse of Pirates and the Early Modern Global World
comma after discourse marker [necessary?]: furthermore, moreover
comma after question mark (direct speech/quotation; discourse marker)
contextualize one's discourse
dangling discourse
depend <for success?> on states of mutual knowledge holding between discourse participants <for success?>
discourse
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discourse is limited to the behavior itself
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disfigure/derail public discourse
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exhaustion discourse
find talk and discourse
He can communicate in a way that fits the purposes of the discourse
Home discourse
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