Definition of: discourse

(dis′kôrs, dis·kôrs′) noun
1. Connected communication of thought sequence; continuous expression or exchange of ideas.
2. Familiar conversation; talk.
3. Formal expression of thought, oral or written; a long treatise or dissertation; a sermon. Direct discourse is spoken or written language quoted in the exact words of the speaker or writer, as in I will go, and is contrasted with indirect discourse, in which his words are reported with change of person or tense, as in he said he would go.
4. An act, the exercise, or the power of analytical and consecutive thought; ratiocination. See synonyms under CONVERSATION, SPEECH.
—v. (dis·kôrs′) ·coursed, ·cours·ing v.i.
1. To set forth one's thoughts and conclusions concerning a subject: with on or upon.
2. To converse; confer.
—v.t.
3. Obs. To discuss. [<OF discours <L discursus <dis- apart + cursus a running <currere run]
—dis·cours′er noun