English Explanatory Dictionary

question

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A worded or expressed sentence, phrase, or only a word on its own, which asks for information, a reply, or a response; an interrogative.
  2. A subject or topic for consideration or investigation.
  3. A doubt or challenge about the truth, accuracy, or validity of a matter.
  4. A proposal to a meeting as a topic for deliberation.
  5. Interrogation by torture.
  6. Talk; conversation; speech.
verb
  1. To ask questions of; to interrogate; to ask for information.
  2. To raise doubts about; have doubts about.
  3. To ask a question or questions; inquire or seek to know; examine.
  4. To argue; to converse; to dispute.

Pronunciation

/ˈkwɛs.tʃən/ /ˈkwɛs.tjən/ /ˈkwɛʃ.tʃən/ /ˈkwɛʃ.tən/ /ˈkʋɛs.tʃən/ /ˈkʋɛʃ.tʃən/ /ˈkʋɛʃ.ən/ /ˈkʋɛs.ʈᵻn/ /ˈkʋɛʃ.ʈᵻn/ /ˈk(ʋ)ɵ-/ /ˈkwɛ.ʃən/ /ˈkwɛʔ.ʃən/ en-us-question.ogg

Word forms

question questions quæstion questioning questioned

Etymology

From Middle English questioun, from Anglo-Norman questiun, from Old French question, from Latin quaestiōnem, accusative of quaestiō (“a seeking, investigation, inquiry, question”), from quaerere (“to seek, ask, inquire”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Partially displaced native Old English āscung. Compare also Middle Low German quēstie (“questioning; inquiry”), Middle High German questje (“question”). Cognates include English quest.

Synonyms

inquiry enquiry query interrogation subject topic problem consideration proposition issue doubt proposal frain quaeritate

Related words

query quest answer ask interrogative

Derived words

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