cough
IPA: kˈɑf
noun
- A sudden, often involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound), and out through the mouth.
- A bout of repeated coughing (verb sense 2.1); also, a medical condition that causes one to cough.
- (figurative) A noise or sound like a cough (sense 1).
verb
- (transitive)
- Sometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound), and out through the mouth.
- To cause (oneself or something) to be in a certain condition in the manner described in sense 1.1.
- To express (words, etc.) in the manner described in sense 1.1.
- (figurative)
- To surrender (information); to confess.
- (originally US, slang) Chiefly followed by up: to give up or hand over (something); especially, to pay up (money).
- (intransitive)
- To push air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound) and out through the mouth, usually to expel something blocking or irritating the airway.
- To make a noise like a cough.
- (originally US, slang) To surrender information; to confess, to spill the beans.
Advertisement
Examples of "cough" in Sentences
- A dry, fitful coughing develops.
- The cough and congestion subside.
- He coughed after puffing cigarettes.
- I was guided by the coughing of the audience.
- Coughing and sneezing can intensify the pain.
- The symptoms are shortness of breath and cough.
- He coughed harshly and spat copiously on the ground.
- It acts on the cough center in the medulla oblongata.
- Potts is a smoker himself and has the cough to prove it.
- Home remedies can help prevent asthma attacks and treat symptoms like coughing.