Oral argument in the United States, a spoken presentation to a judge or appellate court by a lawyer (or parties when representing themselves) of the legal reasons why they should prevail
ˈoːɹəl ˈɑːɹɡjuːmənt ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts, ɐ spˈoʊkən pɹˌɛzəntˈeɪʃən tʊ ɐ dʒˈʌdʒ ɔːɹ ɐpˈɛlət kˈoːɹt baɪ ɐ lˈɔɪɚ ɔːɹ pˈɑːɹɾiz wɛn ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntɪŋ ðɛmsˈɛlvz ʌvðə lˈiːɡəl ɹˈiːzənz wˌaɪ ðeɪ ʃˌʊd pɹɪvˈeɪl