noun / verb
cough
KAWF/kɔːf/
A sudden, noisy release of air from the lungs through the throat.
Dust in the room makes me cough when I breathe.
Etymology
Coughen already described a noisy expulsion of air. Its sound-imitating origin connects the word to the harsh throat noise that accompanies the action.
In context
by catching whatever irritants may be in the airway, and pull them upwards so you can cough them up.
More examples
- A loud cough interrupts the quiet meeting.
- She covers her mouth when she coughs.
- I coughed twice after breathing in the smoke.
Forms
cough · coughs · coughed · coughing
Similar words
- hack
- Describes a harsh, dry cough, often repeated several times.