argument

ar•gu•ment

[[t]ˈɑr gyə mənt[/t]] n.

1) an oral disagreement; contention; altercation

2) a discussion involving differing points of view; debate

3) a process of reasoning; series of reasons

4) a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point:

a strong argument[/ex]

5) discourse intended to persuade

6) subject matter; theme

7) lit. an abstract or summary of the major points of a literary work or sections of such a work

8) math. Math.

a) an independent variable of a function

b) Also called amplitude 7)

the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.

c) math. the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates

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Etymology: 1325–75; ME (< OF) < L argūmentum. See argue, -ment syn: argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression and discussion of differing opinions. An argument usu. arises from a disagreement between two persons, each of whom advances facts supporting his or her point of view: an argument over a debt. A controversy is usu. a public expression of contrary opinions; it may be dignified and of some duration: a political controversy. A dispute is an oral contention, usu. brief, and often of an angry or undignified character: a heated dispute between neighbors.