expectorate

American  

[ik-spek-tuh-reyt] / ɪkˈspɛk təˌreɪt /

verb (used without object)

expectorated, expectorating

1. to eject or expel matter, as phlegm, from the throat or lungs by coughing or hawking and spitting; spit.

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verb (used with object)

expectorated, expectorating

1. to eject or expel (matter) in this way.

expectorate British  

/ ɪkˈspɛktəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to cough up and spit out (sputum from the respiratory passages)

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Other Word Forms

• expectoration
  noun
• expectorator
  noun
• unexpectorated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of expectorate

1595–1605; < Latin expectorātus (past participle of expectorāre to expel from the breast), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + pector- (stem of pectus ) breast + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Looking for a fancy way to say "cough up phlegm"? Try expectorate. There's no way around it — expectorating is pretty gross. If you have a respiratory problem like bronchitis, you're going to expectorate a lot: phlegm and mucus will build up in your lungs, and you'll eventually cough it up and spit it out. A doctor might prescribe a special cough medicine to help you expectorate. Sometimes people use expectorate to mean spitting out plain old saliva, too.

Example Sentences

Expectorate, eks-pek′to-rāt, v.t. to expel from the breast or lungs by coughing, &c.: to spit forth.—v.i. to discharge or eject phlegm from the throat.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various