Etymology : Middle English, from Latin discussus, past participle of discutere to disperse, from dis- apart + quatere to shake; more at DIS-, QUASH
Pronunciation : di-sk&s
Function : transitive verb
Date : 14th century
1. talk about, debate, converse. discuss\dis*cuss"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. discussed ; p. pr. & vb. n. discussing.] [l. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish); dis- + quatere to shake, strike. see:
quash.].
2. to break to pieces; to shatter. [obs.] t. browne.
3. to break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors. many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection. h. wotton. a pomade of virtue to discuss pimples. --rambler.
4. to shake; to put away; to finish. [obs.] all regard of shame she had discussed.
5. to examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "we sat and discussed the farm and the price of grain." "to discuss questions of taste.".
6. to deal with, in eating or drinking. [colloq.] we sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us. s. baker.
7. (law) to examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
8. To break to pieces; to shatter.
9. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; said especially of tumors.
10. To shake; to put away; to finish.
11. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate.
12. To deal with, in eating or drinking.
13. To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
14. 1. If people discuss something, they talk about it, often in order to reach a decision. I will be discussing the situation with colleagues tomorrow The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.
15. If you discuss something, you write or talk about it in detail. I will discuss the role of diet in cancer prevention in Chapter 7.