discourse

  1. Noun.  (context, uncountable) Verbal exchange, conversation.
  2. Noun.  (uncountable) Expression in words, either speech or writing.
  3. Noun.  (countable) A formal lengthy exposition of some subject, either spoken or written.
  4. Noun.  (countable) Any rational expression, reason.
  5. Noun.  (context, social sciences) An institutionalized way of thinking, a social boundary defining what can be said about a specific topic (after Michel Foucault).
  6. Verb.  (intransitive) To engage in discussion or conversation; to converse.
  7. Verb.  (intransitive) To write or speak formally and at length.
  8. Verb.  (obsolete) (transitive) To debate.

This is an unmodified, but possibly outdated, definition from Wiktionary and used here under the Creative Commons license. Wiktionary is a great resource. If you like it too, please donate to Wikimedia.

This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.