cough

[kawf, kof]

verb (used without object)

1. to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a harsh noise, often involuntarily.

2. (of an internal-combustion engine) to make a similar noise as a result of the failure of one or more cylinders to fire in sequence.

3. to make a similar sound, as a machine gun firing in spurts.

verb (used with object)

1. to expel by coughing (usually followed by up orout ).

   to cough up phlegm.

noun

1. the act or sound of coughing.

2. an illness characterized by frequent coughing.

3. a sound similar to a cough, a machine gun, or an engine firing improperly.

verb phrase

1. cough up

   1. to relinquish, especially reluctantly; contribute; give.

   2. to blurt out; state, as by way of making a confession.

      After several hours of vigorous questioning by the police, he finally coughed up the information.

cough

/ kɒf /

verb

1. (intr) to expel air or solid matter from the lungs abruptly and explosively through the partially closed vocal chords

2. (intr) to make a sound similar to this

3. (tr) to utter or express with a cough or coughs

4. slang,  (intr) to confess to a crime

noun

1. an act, instance, or sound of coughing

2. a condition of the lungs or throat that causes frequent coughing

cough

1. The act of expelling air from the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to keep the respiratory passages free of irritating material.

Other Word Forms

• cougher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cough¹

1275–1325; Middle English coghen, apparently < Old English *cohhian (compare its derivative cohhettan to cough); akin to Dutch kuchen to cough, German keuchen to wheeze

Word History and Origins

Origin of cough¹

Old English cohhetten; related to Middle Dutch kochen, Middle High German kūchen to wheeze; probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

But after giving up a score, running back Derrick Henry, who is typically one of the NFL’s best and most reliable ball-carriers, coughed up a late fumble that led to another Buffalo touchdown.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She said one prison guard had said Navalny was experiencing convulsions and was breathing heavily and coughing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At least 11 victims - aged one to six - had died within days of taking a common cough syrup.

Read more on BBC

But just as things settle down, your throat starts to scratch, your nose runs, and suddenly lectures are less about learning and more about trying not to cough louder than the person next to you.

Read more on BBC

“Everyone was getting sick with coughs, the flu, with the air being cold all day,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bark 
• choke 
• hack 
• vomit 
• whoop