cough

play

verb \ ˈkȯf \

Definition of cough

intransitive verb

1 :to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a sharp, short noise :to emit a cough (see ²cough 1)

The dust made him cough repeatedly.

2 :to make a noise like that of coughing

The engine coughed and sputtered and then stopped.

transitive verb

:to expel by coughing —often used with up

cough up mucus

See cough defined for English-language learners

See cough defined for kids

Examples of cough in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of cough from the Web

The disease affects all tissues, but the primary symptom is excess mucus in the lungs and gut, causing chest infections, coughing, difficulty breathing, and digestive problems.

— gunjan sinha, Science | AAAS, "This scientist is building miniature guts, livers, and lungs that could save your life one day," 23 Aug. 2017
The virus spreads through direct contact; coughing, barking and sneezing; contaminated objects; and people moving between infected and noninfected animals.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Highly contagious dog flu outbreak reaches Louisville Metro Animal Services," 14 July 2017
Stress urinary incontinence is leakage that happens when laughing, exercising, straining, sneezing, coughing or the like.

— dr. lisa parrillo, idahostatesman, "It may be embarrassing to talk about, but there’s help for incontinence," 7 July 2017
That day, Chicago’s would-be ace coughed up seven runs on 10 hits (including three home runs) in 2 2/3 innings against the Red Sox.

— SI.com, "25. Chicago White Sox (36–45, minus-16, LT: 18)," 2 July 2017
To work with Cohen herself, parents are said to cough up $3,000 an hour.

— yishai schwartz, Town & Country, "For Parents Willing to Pay Thousands, College Counselors Promise to Make Ivy League Dreams a Reality," 28 June 2017
Cokefair added after people pulled the child out, the child regained consciousness and was coughing up water.

— frank s. abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "Child hospitalized after being pulled from pool in Antioch," 26 June 2017
That changed last fall, when the then-10-year-old dog started coughing.

— kim campbell thornton, sacbee.com, "Health tourism: How far would you go to save your dog’s life?," 23 June 2017
Asked by a White House intern yesterday morning about the the silence on Pride, Jeff Sessions coughed up a surprising answer.

— alex hawgood, The Cut, "These World Leaders Are The New Gay Icons," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cough.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cough

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

cough

noun

Definition of cough

1 :a sudden, sharp-sounding expulsion of air from the lungs acting as a protective mechanism to clear the air passages or as a symptom of pulmonary disturbance

2 :a condition marked by repeated or frequent coughing

She has a bad cough.

See cough defined for English-language learners

Examples of cough in a Sentence

He has a cough and a cold.
They both have bad coughs.
I heard a cough from the back of the church.

Recent Examples of cough from the Web

Her only symptom of lung cancer was a slight cough.

— tiffany stoiber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'We're helping her fight the fight.' Franklin cheerleaders aid local family who has battled cancer for five years," 23 Aug. 2017
Those entering seventh grade also must get a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) booster shot called Tdap, according to a 2010 Ohio law.

— Cincinnati.com, "Important vaccination recommendations and updates for teens, preteens," 14 Aug. 2017
Many camp doctors will watch a child closely to determine whether a rash needs antibiotics or a cough will turn into something serious.

— dara kass, Washington Post, "I’m a camp doctor. You’re always on call. Anything can happen. I love it.," 12 Aug. 2017
Added but unfortunate bonus: Each page in this lengthy book seems less unlikely the more our own society falls to pieces, especially in our current political *cough* climate. 5.

— kelly mcclure, Cosmopolitan, "A Comprehensive Guide to Stephen King, the Master of Horror Fiction," 31 July 2017
A trio of overbrowned and stiff dumplings squirt a filling of pureed carrot with an herbaceousness that tastes as if someone spiked the baby food with cough medicine.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "Clever Rabbit is a feeding frenzy for plant eaters," 5 July 2017
The last type of plague, pneumonic, is also characterized by fever and chills, as well as respiratory problems like chest pain, cough and shortness of breath.

— alexandra sifferlin, Time, "People Are Still Getting the Plague. Here's What You Need to Know," 28 June 2017
Sure, the most disgruntled investor among them (cough, Bill Gurley) might complain that Uber should buck up and go public already.

— erin griffith, Fortune, "Term Sheet — Friday, June 23," 23 June 2017
Some examples include chronic constipation that causes hard pushing, chronic cough and extra weight.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "How likely am I to develop a hernia?," 19 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of cough

see ¹cough

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

COUGH Defined for English Language Learners

cough

play

verb

Definition of cough for English Language Learners

: to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick
: to make a noise like that of coughing

cough

noun

Definition of cough for English Language Learners

: a physical condition or illness that causes someone to cough
: an act of coughing or the sound made when someone coughs

COUGH Defined for Kids

cough

play

verb \ ˈkȯf \

Definition of cough for Students

coughed; coughing

1 :to force air from the lungs suddenly with a sharp short noise or series of noises

2 :to get rid of by coughing

cough up mucus

cough

noun

Definition of cough for Students

1 :a condition in which there is severe or frequent coughing

She has a bad cough.

2 :an act or sound of coughing

a dry cough

Medical Dictionary

cough

play

intransitive verb \ ˈkȯf \

medical Definition of cough

:to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a sharp, short noise usually in a series of efforts

transitive verb

:to expel by coughing —often used with up

cough up mucus

cough

noun

medical Definition of cough

1 :a condition marked by repeated, frequent coughing

he has a bad cough

2 :a sudden, sharp-sounding expulsion of air from the lungs acting as a protective mechanism to clear the air passages or as a symptom of pulmonary disturbance