1.argument的基本意思是指互相认识或不认识的个人之间的“争论，争吵，辩论”，可以是理性的摆事实、讲道理，也可以是诉诸感情的激烈争论。分歧可能因此而解决，也可能不能解决。指一次争论或辩论时是可数名词，其他情况下多为不可数名词。
2.argument还可以表示“说理，论证”，强调重证据，以理服人，双方都想证明自己正确，并说服对方赞同自己的看法和立场。是不可数名词。
3.argument表示“理由”时，专指能说服别人同意自己的看法或站在自己的立场的论据或论点。表示“讲话、讨论的议题”时，指为某个特定文学作品或讲话事先选定的主题，有时也指简述中心思想或概括发展情节的梗概。argument作此二解时是可数名词。
4.argument表示“争论,争吵,辩论”时常跟(with sb) about 〔over〕 sth；表示“说理,论证”和“论据,论点,理由”时常接for或against，还可接that引导的同位语从句。

His strong arguments persuaded me to accept his conclusions.他的强有力的论据说服了我，使我接受了他的结论。
Her argument was that it would be cheaper to buy a new radio than to get the old one repaired.她认为买台新收音机要比修理旧的便宜。
He made a persuasive argument.他发表了很有说服力的论点。
Do you accept this argument?你接受这个论点吗？
It take two to start argument.一个巴掌拍不响。
They keep getting into heated political arguments.他们不断地进行激烈的政治辩论。
I don't think that's a very strong argument.我认为这不是一个坚实有力的论点。
He wanted to settle a dispute by argument.他想通过说理解决争端。
There is not much meat in this argument.这番议论没什么内容。
They were engaged in this argument for hours.他们在这个论点上花了好几个小时。
This belief is open to argument.这种看法还可以争论。
She accepted the decision without argument.他没有异议地接受了这个决定。
▲～+prep.-phrase
We got into an argument about money.我们为钱争吵起来。
The children had an argument about what game to play.孩子们为该玩什么游戏发生了争吵。
They were having an argument about whose turn it was to do the cooking.他们为该轮到谁做饭而争吵不休。
He and David had been drawn into a ferocious argument about their jointly owned car.他和戴维为了他们共同拥有的汽车发生了激烈的争吵。
There are many arguments against smoking.反对吸烟的理由很多。
There are strong arguments against these measures.有强有力的理由反对这些措施。
There are strong arguments for and against mercy killing punishment.对于安乐死,赞成与反对的双方都有强有力的论据。
Now that we've heard all the arguments for and against the proposal, shall we vote on it? 我们既已听到了对于这项提案的所有赞成和反对的论点，是否就此进行投票表决？
The committee listened to all the arguments for and against the proposal.委员会听取了所有的赞成与反对这项建议的理由。
What are your arguments for wanting to study abroad?你想出国念书的理由是什么？
These are arguments in favour of this hypothesis.这些就是赞同这个假说的论点。
His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
The central argument of the book is that some of the plays supposedly written by Shakespeare were actually written by someone else.这本书的中心论点是：有些被认为是出自莎士比亚之手的剧本，实际上是由其他人写的。
The argument over self-rule is long.这场关于自治的争论历时长久。
There is no need for arguments over it.关于这个问题没有争论的必要。
I said no and we got into a big argument over it.我拒绝了，于是我们为此大吵了一番。
She had an argument with her boyfriend.她同男友发生了争执。
He got into an argument with Jeff in the pub last night.昨晚他在酒馆里跟杰夫吵了一场。
▲～+that-clause
Perhaps more common is the argument that disarmament agreements cannot work.或许更常听到的论点是裁军协议行不通。
Her husband was not convinced by her argument that they needed a bigger house.她认为需要一幢更大的房子，但她丈夫并没有被她的观点所说服。

argument, controversy, dispute
参见controversy条。

［派生词］ argumentative adj. 好争论的
［同义词］  disagreement, dispute, quarrel, fight, reason
［反义词］  agreement, accord, harmony