Discourse

n. discussion, dialogue, speech, lecture

v. discuss, talk, converse

Discourse is communication that goes back and forth (from the Latin, discursus, "running to and fro"), such as debate or argument. The term is used in semantics and discourse analysis. In semantics, discourses are linguistic units composed of several sentences — in other words, conversations, arguments or speeches.
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Noun
1. extended verbal expression in speech or writing
(hypernym) language unit, linguistic unit
(hyponym) context, linguistic context, context of use
2. an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
(synonym) sermon, preaching
(hypernym) address, speech
(hyponym) baccalaureate
(classification) church service, church
3. an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic; "the book contains an excellent discussion of modal logic"; "his treatment of the race question is badly biased"
(synonym) discussion, treatment
(hypernym) communication, communicating
(hyponym) detail
(derivation) talk about, discuss
Verb
1. to consider or examine in speech or writing; "The article covered all the different aspects of this question"; "The class discussed Dante's `Inferno'"
(synonym) talk about, discuss
(hypernym) cover, treat, handle, plow, deal, address
(hyponym) descant
(derivation) discussion, treatment
2. carry on a conversation
(synonym) converse
(hypernym) talk, speak
(hyponym) argue, contend, debate, fence
3. talk or hold forth formally about a topic; "The speaker dissertated about the social politics in 18th century England"
(synonym) dissertate
(hypernym) talk, speak

(v. t.)
To utter or give forth; to speak.
  

(v. t.)
To treat of; to expose or set forth in language.
  

(v. t.)
To talk to; to confer with.
  

(v. i.)
To treat of something in writing and formally.
  

(v. i.)
To relate something; to tell.
  

(v. i.)
To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to converse.
  

(v. i.)
To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason.
  

(n.)
The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty.
  

(n.)
The art and manner of speaking and conversing.
  

(n.)
Dealing; transaction.
  

(n.)
Conversation; talk.
  

(n.)
Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.
  

sometimes this term refers to any kind of talk, but often it refers to particular unified ways of talking that represents a kind of conversation scross texts from different but related communities.