argument

(ärˈgyə-mənt)

1. a. A discussion in which disagreement is expressed; a debate.
   b. A quarrel; a dispute.
   c. Archaic A reason or matter for dispute or contention: “sheath'd their swords for lack of argument” (Shakespeare).
2. a. A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood: presented a careful argument for extraterrestrial life.
   b. A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason: The current low mortgage rates are an argument for buying a house now.
   c. A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.
3. a. A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.
   b. A topic; a subject: “You and love are still my argument” (Shakespeare).
4. Logic The minor premise in a syllogism.
5. Mathematics
   a. An independent variable of a function.
   b. The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.
6. Computer Science A value used to evaluate a procedure or subroutine.
7. Linguistics In generative grammar, any of various positions occupied by a noun phrase in a sentence.