1
general::
discussion
an occasion when you discuss something, or the process of discussing it:
• After a long discussion, they decided to paint the room pale blue. • This led to a discussion of our favourite books. • There are several projects under discussion (= being discussed ) .
debate
discussion of a particular subject that often continues for a long time, in which people express different opinions. Also used to mean a formal discussion of a subject, after which people vote for or against something:
• There is a lot of debate about the safety of nuclear power. • The student union is holding a debate on immigration.
talks
formal discussions between governments, organizations etc:
• the Arab-Israeli peace talks • The next round of trade talks will be held in the spring. • Bilateral talks (= between two groups or countries ) on refugees took place in November.
negotiations
official discussions between two or more groups who are trying to agree on something:
• The two sides have begun negotiations aimed at ending the dispute. • International negotiations on reducing sulphur dioxide emissions have ended without agreement.
conference
a large formal meeting at which people from many places discuss their work or research, or important matters relating to their organization:
• an international conference on nuclear physics • the Labour Party conference
consultation
a formal discussion in which people who are affected by or involved in something can give their opinions:
• The govenment promised a full public consultation before a decision was made to build the airport. • The revised syllabus was devised after wide consultations with the teaching profession.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
noun ADJ. detailed, full, in-depth, lengthy, long They had a detailed discussion of the issues. | brief | considerable After considerable discussion, they decided to accept our offer. | initial, preliminary | further The plan was agreed without further discussion. | general, wide-ranging a wide-ranging discussion on women's rights | public | formal, informal After the lecture there will be an opportunity for informal discussion. | bilateral, group, one-to-one, round-table a series of bilateral discussions between Israel and neighbouring states Women were asked to take part in small group discussions. | candid, frank, open | animated, heated, intense, lively a heated discussion about politics | serious | reasoned | useful | inconclusive VERB + DISCUSSION have, hold We had a long discussion about the plans for next year. The two governments are to hold discussions on the border issue. | enter into We are hoping to enter into discussions with leaders of the prison service. | be involved in, join in, participate in, take part in They refused to take part in the discussions. | generate, initiate, provoke, stimulate These latest findings have generated a lot of discussion of the moral issues involved. | set up ways of setting up discussions between children to explore each other's viewpoints | lead, open, start The discussion was led by the director of marketing. Who is going to start the discussion? | bring sth up for, come up for, open sth up for The issue should come up for discussion at the climate change conference. The topic must be opened up for general discussion. | open up We need to open up a discussion on the basic aspects of the theory. | confine I wish to confine the discussion to income taxation. | sum up Let us sum up the discussion so far. | break off, conclude, end The government has broken off discussions with the unions. We decided to end the discussion before it got out of hand. | defer, postpone | follow up Discussion should be followed up by a written report. DISCUSSION + VERB take place Discussions have taken place between the two leaders. | centre on Discussion centred on the contribution different groups would make to the project. | break out, ensue An intense discussion broke out about the importance of intuition. Adam raised the issue of multimedia applications and much useful discussion ensued. | continue DISCUSSION + NOUN group | document PREP. for ~ the subject for discussion | during/in a/the ~ During our discussions we raised many issues that need deeper consideration. | in ~ with The company had been in discussion with companies in Austria, Italy and Greece. | under ~ Plans for a new bypass are still under discussion. | ~ about/on a discussion about reform of the health service | ~ as to Discussion continues as to the relative merits of the different schemes. | ~ between discussions between management and union officials | ~ of a discussion of the issues involved | ~ with discussions with the government PHRASES a basis for discussion We can use the draft document as a basis for discussion. | a forum for discussion The group provides a forum for the discussion of ideas. | the outcome of a discussion The outcome of the discussions is a decision to proceed with Phase 2 of the programme. | a subject/topic for/of discussionMEETING
Oxford Collocations Dictionary