I. dis ‧ course 1 /ˈdɪskɔːs $ -ɔːrs/ BrE AmE noun formal
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: discursus 'conversation' , from Latin , 'running around' , from currere 'to run' ]
1 . [countable] a serious speech or piece of writing on a particular subject
discourse on/upon
a discourse on art
2 . [uncountable] serious conversation or discussion between people:
Candidates should engage in serious political discourse.
3 . [uncountable] the language used in particular types of speech or writing:
a study of spoken discourse
II. dis ‧ course 2 /dɪsˈkɔːs $ -ɔːrs/ BrE AmE verb
discourse on/upon something phrasal verb formal
to make a long formal speech about something, or to discuss something seriously