1. （各自发表不同观点的）辩论，争论，讨论
    A debate is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views.

    e.g. An intense debate is going on within the Israeli government...
           以色列政府内部正在进行激烈的辩论。
    e.g. There has been a lot of debate among scholars about this.
           学者之间对此一直争论纷纷。

2. (议会或其他机构就某问题在投票前进行的)辩论
    A debate is a formal discussion, for example in a parliament or institution, in which people express different opinions about a particular subject and then vote on it.

    e.g. There are expected to be some heated debates in parliament over the next few days.
           预计接下来的几天里议会将会进行一些激烈的辩论。

3. （与…）辩论，争论，讨论
    If people debate a topic, they discuss it fairly formally, putting forward different views. You can also say that one person debates a topic with another person.

    e.g. The United Nations Security Council will debate the issue today...
           联合国安理会今天将就这个问题展开讨论。
    e.g. The causes of anorexia are much debated...
           关于厌食的起因存在颇多争论。

4. 考虑;盘算;权衡
    If you debate whether to do something or what to do, you think or talk about possible courses of action before deciding exactly what you are going to do.

debate的翻译

    e.g. Taggart debated whether to have yet another double vodka...
           塔格特思忖着是否再要一杯双份伏特加。
    e.g. At the moment we are debating what furniture to buy for the house...
           我们眼下正盘算着为房子购置什么样的家具。

5. 存在争论的;有待讨论的;未确定的
    If you say that a matter is open to debate, you mean that people have different opinions about it, or it has not yet been firmly decided.

    e.g. Which of them has more musical talent is open to debate.
           他们之中谁更有音乐天赋还未有定论。