Does a discussion among two or more people have to have a certain amount of words or sentences or people involved? I'm interested in both the technically correct definition and the way people use the word. I always thought that every person said to be involved in the discussion must speak more than one sentence for it to be considered a discussion. Is this right or could a person asking a question and another replying constitute a discussion? The dictionary definitions I read didn't say anything about length. This is why I ask about common use. I presume most people would agree one person saying to another 'we need more chairs' without the other person giving a response, is not a discussion, though it seems to fit the dictionary definition. Edit: so then where is the distinction between speech and discussion or a speech with a question period at the end? For example in school you wouldn't say a class is a discusion with the teacher just because the students have the opertunity to ask a question.