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question

"How am I doing so far?" "What time is it?" These are questions, in other words — sentences designed to get information from someone. Do you understand this definition?

Question can also mean a doubt about the truth of something. If your college professor tells you he has a question about the originality of your term paper, for example, it means you might be getting busted for plagiarism. The act of raising such a doubt is also "to question" something. Finally, a question can be something that depends on a particular condition: "Reading dictionaries is a question of interest and intellect." There's no question you have both, clearly.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: question

1	n v	a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply pose a question
2	n	the subject matter at issue
3	n v	uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something place in doubt or express doubtful speculation
4	n	an informal reference to a marriage proposal

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: question

n a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

“he asked a direct question”

Synonyms:: interrogation, interrogative, interrogative sentence

Types:: cross-question
a question asked in cross-examination; leading question
a question phrased in such a way as to suggest the desired answer; a lawyer may ask leading questions on cross-examination; yes-no question
a question that can be answered by yes or no

Type of:: sentence
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

n an instance of questioning

“there was a question about my training”

Synonyms:: enquiry, inquiry, interrogation, query

Antonyms:: answer
the speech act of replying to a question

Type of:: inquiring, questioning
a request for information

v pose a question

Synonyms:: query

Types:: show 11 types...; hide 11 types...; enquire, inquire, wonder
have a wish or desire to know something; interpellate
question formally about policy or government business; examine
question closely; pump
question persistently; check out, feel out, sound out
try to learn someone's opinions and intentions; debrief
put someone through a debriefing and make him report; quiz, test
examine someone's knowledge of something; cross examine, cross question
question closely, or question a witness that has already been questioned by the opposing side; catechise, catechize
examine through questioning and answering; grill
examine thoroughly; request
inquire for (information)

Type of:: ask
address a question to and expect an answer from

v pose a series of questions to

“The suspect was questioned by the police”

“We questioned the survivor about the details of the explosion”

Synonyms:: interrogate

Type of:: ask
address a question to and expect an answer from

v conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting

Synonyms:: interview

Type of:: converse, discourse
carry on a conversation

n the subject matter at issue

“the question of disease merits serious discussion”

Synonyms:: head

Types:: show 12 types...; hide 12 types...; problem
a question raised for consideration or solution; matter of fact, question of fact
a disputed factual contention that is generally left for a jury to decide; matter of law, question of law
a disputed legal contention that is generally left for a judge to decide; mystifier, puzzle, puzzler, teaser
a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution; case
a problem requiring investigation; homework problem
a problem that students are assigned to do outside of class; brain-teaser, conundrum, enigma, riddle
a difficult problem; poser, sticker, stumper, toughie
a particularly difficult or baffling question or problem; Gordian knot
any very difficult problem; insoluble in its own terms; koan
a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution; used in Zen Buddhism to show the inadequacy of logical reasoning; pons asinorum
a problem that severely tests the ability of an inexperienced person; rebus
a puzzle where you decode a message consisting of pictures representing syllables and words