cough

¹cough

verb \ˈkȯf\

Definition of COUGH

intransitive verb

1

: to expel air from the lungs suddenly with an explosive noise

2

: to make a noise like that of coughing

transitive verb

: to expel by coughing —often used with up <cough up mucus>

Examples of COUGH

1. She was coughing and sneezing all day.
2. The dust made him cough.
3. The engine coughed and sputtered and then stopped.

Origin of COUGH

Middle English, from Old English *cohhian; akin to Middle High German kūchen to breathe heavily

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with COUGH

doff, off, scoff, taw, trough