-.ˌtrāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin arbitratus, past participle of arbitrari to render judgment, consider as, from arbitr-, arbiter judge — more at arbiter
intransitive verb
: to act as arbitrator or judge
arbitrate upon several reports
arbitrate between parties to a suit
transitive verb
1. : to act as arbiter upon (a disputed question)
political leaders deem themselves competent to arbitrate scientific disputes — Martin Gardner
the commission arbitrated boundaries between the countries
2. : to submit or refer for decision (as a quarrel) to an arbiter
she was invariably right when we arbitrated our dispute — Ernest Beaglehole
3. archaic : to make authoritative decisions concerning : decide , determine
decides that which long process could not arbitrate — Shakespeare