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 or out ):

   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. Slang.
   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

/ kôf,kŏf /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈcougher, noun

Other Words From

• cougher 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

In the more than five-minute long call, Mr Stockton could be heard saying "come on little man", "wakey wakey" and "cough it up" before apparently performing CPR on Charlie under direction from the call-handler.

From BBC

Over a third of respondents said they had purchased cough syrup during that time.

From BBC

"The US basically wanted to have China cough up some money for that fund as well. Now they won't be able to do that. That leaves China off the hook," Prof Klein said.

From BBC

He developed a persistent cough in 2013, but in 2017 he collapsed at work and never returned.

From BBC

But now he’s a free agent, about to take offers from any team willing to cough up, what, $600 million, maybe more?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bark
• choke
• hack
• vomit
• whoop