Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense coughs, present participle coughing, past tense, past participle coughed
1. verb
When you cough, you force air out of your throat with a sudden, harsh noise. You often cough when you are ill, or when you are nervous or want to attract someone's attention.
Graham began to cough violently. [VERB]
He coughed. 'Excuse me, Mrs Allsworthy, could I have a word?' [VERB]
Synonyms: clear your throat, bark, hawk, hack [informal] More Synonyms of cough
Cough is also a noun.
Coughs and sneezes spread infections much faster in a warm atmosphere.
They were interrupted by an apologetic cough.
coughinguncountable noun
He was then overcome by a terrible fit of coughing.
2. countable noun
A cough is an illness in which you cough often and your chest or throat hurts.
...if you have a persistent cough for over a month.
Synonyms: frog or tickle in your throat, bark, hack [informal] More Synonyms of cough
3. verb
If you cough blood or mucus, it comes up out of your throat or mouth when you cough.
I started coughing blood so they transferred me to a hospital. [VERB noun]
Cough up means the same as cough.
Keats became feverish, continually coughing up blood. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
4. verb
If an engine or other machine coughs, it makes a sudden, harsh noise.
Then suddenly, the engine coughed, spluttered and died. [VERB]
Phrasal verbs:
See cough up
cough in British English
(kɒf)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to expel air or solid matter from the lungs abruptly and explosively through the partially closed vocal chords
2. (intransitive)
to make a sound similar to this
3. (transitive)
to utter or express with a cough or coughs
4. (intransitive) slang
to confess to a crime
noun
5.
an act, instance, or sound of coughing
6.
a condition of the lungs or throat that causes frequent coughing
Derived forms
cougher (ˈcougher)
noun
Word origin
Old English cohhetten; related to Middle Dutch kochen, Middle High German kūchen to wheeze; probably of imitative origin
cough in American English
(kɔf)
verb intransitive
1.
to expel air suddenly and noisily from the lungs through the glottis, either as the result of an involuntary muscular spasm in the throat or to clear the air passages
2.
to make a sound like this
verb transitive
3.
to expel by coughing
4.
to express or utter by coughing
noun
5.
the act or sound of coughing
6.
a condition, as of the lungs or throat, causing frequent coughing
Idioms:
cough up
Derived forms
cougher (ˈcougher)
noun
Word origin
ME coughen, akin to MDu cuchen, to cough, Ger keuchen, to gasp
Examples of 'cough' in a sentence
cough
Ministers say that chemists can do more in advising older people on taking medicine and dealing with coughs and colds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She takes it for coughs, colds and sore throats.
The Sun (2016)
Another possibility, though, is whooping cough.
The Sun (2016)
They also include coughs, colds, back pain and insect bites.
The Sun (2016)
He took some medication, we all take medication, we all get colds and coughs and a touch of asthma.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As for vinegar, he recommended it for a wide range of uses, from cleaning wounds to sorting out a persistent cough.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A source said:'She had a dreadful cough and cold.
The Sun (2017)
The starboard engine coughed twice and cut.
Len Deighton Bomber
Most winter coughs are caused by viruses.
The Sun (2012)
He regularly wakes up having a coughing fit.
The Sun (2014)
It is though to suppress nerve activity to cut coughing and ease mucus.
The Sun (2014)
The usual symptoms are a persistent cough and shortness of breath.
The Sun (2010)
Is she at risk of catching whooping cough?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Now my cough is bad again and my chest feels tight.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She fractured three ribs through coughing so much.
The Sun (2012)
Symptoms include weight loss and coughing up blood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The petrol supply was resumed and the engine coughed into life to loud cheers.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Most people are amazed to hear that standard winter coughs often take three weeks to clear up.
The Sun (2013)
Steel coughed blood and felt a loose tooth in his mouth.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
He told me that he was once about to go on air when he had a coughing fit.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Prior to his diagnosis the only signs something could be wrong were a few bruises on his feet and a bad cough.
The Sun (2009)
A spoonful of honey will help soothe a sore throat or cough and cure a cold.
Grunfield, Nina A Miscellany of Mother's Wisdom (1994)
Cue much coughing and cackling.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Your throat protection against cough.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I have a nervous cough, possibly asthma.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It's an airborne disease spread by coughing, sneezing and spitting.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I may have county court judgments against me and it might affect my ability to get credit, which make some people nervous enough to cough up.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Now I'm coughing green mucus.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
cough
British English: cough /kɒf/ NOUN
A cough is an act, instance, or sound of coughing.
Coughs and sneezes spread infections much faster in a warm atmosphere.
American English: cough
Arabic: سُعَال
Brazilian Portuguese: tosse
Chinese: 咳嗽
Croatian: kašalj
Czech: kašel
Danish: hoste
Dutch: hoest
European Spanish: tos
Finnish: yskä
French: toux
German: Husten
Greek: βήχας
Italian: tosse
Japanese: 咳
Korean: 기침
Norwegian: hoste
Polish: kaszel
European Portuguese: tosse
Romanian: tuse
Russian: кашель
Latin American Spanish: tos
Swedish: hosta
Thai: การไอ
Turkish: öksürük
Ukrainian: кашель
Vietnamese: chứng ho
British English: cough /kɒf/ VERB
When you cough, you force air out of your throat with a sudden, harsh noise. You often cough when you are ill, or when you are nervous or want to attract someone's attention.
Graham began to cough violently.
American English: cough
Arabic: يَسْعُلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: tossir
Chinese: 咳嗽
Croatian: kašljati
Czech: kašlat
Danish: hoste
Dutch: hoesten
European Spanish: toser
Finnish: yskiä
French: tousser
German: husten
Greek: βήχω
Italian: tossire
Japanese: 咳をする
Korean: 기침하다
Norwegian: hoste
Polish: zakaszleć
European Portuguese: tossir
Romanian: a tuși
Russian: кашлять
Latin American Spanish: toser
Swedish: hosta
Thai: ไอ
Turkish: öksürmek
Ukrainian: кашляти
Vietnamese: ho
All related terms of 'cough'
cough up
If you cough up an amount of money, you pay or spend that amount, usually when you would prefer not to.
chin cough
an acute infectious disease characterized by coughing spasms that end with a shrill crowing sound on inspiration : caused by infection with the bacillus Bordetella pertussis
cough drop
a lozenge to relieve a cough
cough sweet
a lozenge to relieve a cough
cough syrup
Cough syrup is a liquid medicine that you take when you have a cough.
cough mixture
Cough mixture is the same as → cough medicine .
hacking cough
a harsh , dry and spasmodic cough
cough medicine
Cough medicine is liquid medicine that you take when you have a cough.
whooping cough
Whooping cough is a serious infectious disease which causes people to cough and make a loud noise when they breathe in.