Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: arguer, from Latin arguere 'to make clear'

argue

 verb
     
ar‧gue S1 W1
1 [intransitive] to disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way:
We could hear the neighbours arguing.
argue with
Gallacher continued to argue with the referee throughout the game.
argue about
They were arguing about how to spend the money.
argue over
The children were arguing over which TV programme to watch.
2 [intransitive and transitive] to state, giving clear reasons, that something is true, should be done etc
argue that
Croft argued that a date should be set for the withdrawal of troops.
It could be argued that a dam might actually increase the risk of flooding.
argue for/against (doing) something
Baker argued against cutting the military budget.
She argued the case for changing the law.
The researchers put forward a well-argued case for banning the drug.
They argued the point (=discussed it) for hours without reaching a conclusion.
3

argue somebody into/out of doing something

British English to persuade someone to do or not do something:
Joyce argued me into buying a new jacket.
4 [transitive] formal to show that something clearly exists or is true:
The statement argues a change of attitude by the management.
5

argue the toss

British English informal to continue to argue about a decision that has been made and cannot be changed:
There was no point arguing the toss after the goal had been disallowed.
WORD FOCUS: argue WORD FOCUS: argue
synonyms: fight, quarrel, have a row British English
to argue about unimportant things: squabble, bicker, quibble
to stop arguing: bury the hatchet, settle your differences, make your peace with somebody, make it up (used about friends or lovers)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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