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Entry 12 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Question

/kwĕs'-chən/ · Ques·tion · IPA /ˈkwɛs.tʃən/
01 n. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer.
  1. 1.
    The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine by question and answer.
  2. 2.
    Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as, the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without question.
    “There arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.” — John iii. 25.
    “It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for the propagation of the faith.” — Bacon.
  3. 3.
    Examination with reference to a decisive result; investigation; specifically, a judicial or official investigation; also, examination under torture.
    “He that was in question for the robbery. Shak. The Scottish privy council had power to put state prisoners to the question.” — Macaulay.
  4. 4.
    That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query.
    “But this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ?” — Milton.
  5. 5.
    Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate; theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a delicate or doubtful question.
  6. 6.
    Talk; conversation; speech; speech.[Obs.]
Phrases & compounds
In question — in debate; in the course of examination or discussion; as, the matter or point in question.
Leading question — See under Leading.
Out of question — unquestionably.
Out of the question — See under Out.
Past question — beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly; unquestionably.
Previous question — a question put to a parliamentary assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at once, without further debate, on the subject under consideration.
To beg the question — See under Beg.
To the question — to the point in dispute; to the real matter under debate.
Syn. Point; topic; subject.
02 v. i. To ask questions; to inquire.
imp. & p. p. Questioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Questioning
  1. 1.
    To ask questions; to inquire.
    “He that questioneth much shall learn much.” — Bacon.
  2. 2.
    To argue; to converse; to dispute.[Obs.]
    “I pray you, think you question with the Jew.” — Shak.
03 v. t. To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness.
  1. 1.
    To inquire of by asking questions; to examine by interrogatories; as, to question a witness.
  2. 2.
    To doubt of; to be uncertain of; to query.
    “And most we question what we most desire.” — Prior.
  3. 3.
    To raise a question about; to call in question; to make objection to.
  4. 4.
    To talk to; to converse with.
    “With many holiday and lady terms he questioned me.” — Shak.
Syn. To ask; interrogate; catechise; doubt; controvert; dispute.
-- Question, Inquire, Interrogate. To inquire is merely to ask for information, and implies no authority in the one who asks. To interrogate is to put repeated questions in a formal or systematic fashion to elicit some particular fact or facts. To question has a wider sense than to interrogate, and often implies an attitude of distrust or opposition on the part of the questioner.