question

n. & v.
—n.
1 a sentence worded or expressed so as to seek information.
2 a doubt about or objection to a thing's truth, credibility, advisability, etc. (allowed it without question). b the raising of such doubt etc.
3 a matter to be discussed or decided or voted on.
4 a problem requiring an answer or solution.
5 (foll. by of) a matter or concern depending on conditions (it's a question of money).
—v.tr.
1 ask questions of; interrogate.
2 subject (a person) to examination.
3 throw doubt upon; raise objections to.
4 seek information from the study of (phenomena, facts).
Phrases and idioms:
be a question of time be certain to happen sooner or later. beyond all question undoubtedly. come into question be discussed; become of practical importance. in question that is being discussed or referred to (the person in question). is not the question is irrelevant. out of the question too impracticable etc. to be worth discussing; impossible. put the question require supporters and opponents of a proposal to record their votes, divide a meeting. question mark a punctuation mark (?) indicating a question. question-master Brit. a person who presides over a quiz game etc. question time Parl. a period during parliamentary proceedings when MPs may question ministers.
Derivatives:
questioner n. questioningly adv. questionless adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF questiun, OF question, questionner f. L quaestio -onis f. quaerere quaest- seek