ques·tion
(kwĕśchən)
[Middle English, from Old French, legal inquiry, from Latin quaestiō, quaestiōn-, from * quaestus obsolete past participle of quaerere, to ask, seek.]
noun
- An expression of inquiry that invites or calls for a reply.
- An interrogative sentence, phrase, or gesture.
- A subject or point open to controversy; an issue.
- A difficult matter; a problem: a question of ethics.
- A point or subject under discussion or consideration.
- A proposition brought up for consideration by an assembly.
- The act of bringing a proposal to vote.
- Uncertainty; doubt: There is no question about the validity of the enterprise.
verb: -tioned, -tion·ing, -tions.
transitive verb
- To put a question to. See synonyms at ask
- To examine (a witness, for example) by questioning; interrogate.
- To express doubt about; dispute.
- To analyze; examine.
intransitive verb
- To ask questions.
idioms
- in question
- Under consideration or discussion.
- out of the question
- Not worth considering; impossible: Starting over is out of the question.
derivatives
- queśtion·er
- noun
- queśtion·ing·ly
- adverb
