[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/discourse/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / discourse

# discourse

noun (discourse, discourses); verb (discourse, discourses, discoursed, discoursing — formal)

«discourse» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) Serious talk or discussion between people; the way people talk and write about a subject: «public discourse». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#m1)
2. (formal) A long, serious speech or piece of writing on a subject, such as a sermon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#m2)
3. (verb, formal) To talk or write at length about something: «He discoursed on the stars». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#m3)
4. (language study) Any stretch of language longer than a sentence: conversation or connected text. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#m4)

### In the lessons

A formal exam word met in English, history and church texts. In church: a «discourse» can mean a long sermon or teaching, such as Jesus' discourses in the Gospels. In news: «political discourse». Phrases: «public discourse», «a discourse on», «discourse about».

### Examples

- The professor gave a long discourse on volcanoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x1)
- Polite discourse means listening as well as talking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x2)
- Grandad discoursed on the old days for an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x3)
- In the Gospel, Jesus' discourse at the Last Supper is long and tender. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x4)
- Bad language has no place in classroom discourse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x5)
- The book is a discourse on kindness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x6)
- "Oh no," replied the counsellor; "I can only discourse on topics which every one should understand." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/#x7)

### Note

Formal word. Pronounced DIS-corse (noun), dis-CORSE (verb, sometimes). In speech say «talk», «discussion» or «speech». Do not confuse with «discus» or «course».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «discourse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/discourse/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«discourse» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/discourse.html) on Mova free.