question definition - Dictionary

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question

ques·tion [ kwéschən ]

noun (plural ques·tions)

Definition:

1. written or spoken inquiry: a request for information or for a reply, which usually ends with a question mark if written or on a rising intonation if spoken

Does anyone have any questions?

2. doubt: a doubt or uncertainty about somebody or something

3. issue: a matter that is the subject of discussion, debate, or negotiation

4. education examination problem: a problem to be discussed or solved in an examination

verb (past and past participle ques·tioned, present participle ques·tion·ing, 3rd person present singular ques·tions)

Definition:

1. transitive and intransitive verb interrogate somebody: to ask somebody for information, especially formally or officially and on a specific topic

2. intransitive verb inquire: to ask questions

3. transitive verb doubt something: to raise doubts about something, especially about its truth, genuineness, or usefulness

[13th century. Via French< Latin quaestion- "inquiry" < past participle of quaerere "seek"]

ques·tion·er noun

beg the question

1. to take for granted the very point that needs to be proved, and so fail to address an issue properly

2. to give rise to something else that should be answered or explained

be out of the question to be impossible or unacceptable

call something into question to raise doubts about something

in question used to indicate the person or thing under discussion

pop the question to propose marriage to somebody (informal)

Word Usage


	To beg the question is often used to mean "to raise the question" or "to avoid a direct answer," since both meanings are consistent with the form of the idiom. The basic meaning of this idiom relates to the validity of a proposition that is used as a basis of argument. For example, in an argument about the effect on the environment of gas emissions from road traffic, the proposition that a higher tax on vehicles would contribute to cleaner air begs the question, because it needs to be proved that raising taxes would result in fewer road users. The fallacy implied by the notion of begging the question usually involves the omission of one stage in an argument, or a questionable assumption of its validity.

Word Key: Synonyms


	question, quiz, interrogate, cross-examine, grill, give the third degree CORE MEANING: to ask for information question to ask somebody for information, especially formally or officially and on a specific topic; Patients were questioned in detail about their symptoms. quiz to subject somebody to sustained close questioning; Anne was being quizzed by her aunt about her many boyfriends. interrogate to question somebody thoroughly, often in an aggressive or threatening manner and especially as part of a formal investigation, for example, in a police station or courtroom; Police are interrogating two men and a woman arrested on Thursday. cross-examine (informal) to ask somebody a lot of detailed questions in a persistent or aggressive way; We were cross-examined about who we'd spoken to and why it had taken us so long to get home. grill (informal) to question somebody in a persistent manner; Lawyers on both sides grilled a DNA expert about his analysis of the blood found in the vehicle. give the third degree (informal) to subject somebody to intensive interrogation, especially when accompanied by rough physical treatment; My mother gave me the third degree whenever I was out late.