Literally, to drive; to beat or to shake in pieces; to separate by beating or shaking.

To disperse; to scatter; to dissolve; to repel; as, to discuss a tumor; a medical use of the word.

To debate; to agitate by argument; to clear of objections and difficulties, with a view to find or illustrate truth; to sift; to examine by disputation; to ventilate; to reason on, for the purpose of separating truth from falsehood. We discuss a subject, a point, a problem, a question, the propriety, expedience or justice of a measure.

To break in pieces.

To shake off.