Word Study
cough
CIDE DICTIONARY
cough, v. i. [Cf. D. kuchen, MHG. kchen to breathe, G. keuchen to pant, and E. chincough, the first part of which is prob. akin to cough; cf. also E. choke.].
To expel air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner. [1913 Webster]
cough, v. t.
- To expel from the lungs or air passages by coughing; -- followed by up; as, to cough up phlegm. [1913 Webster]
- To bring to a specified state by coughing; as, he coughed himself hoarse. [1913 Webster]
- A sudden, noisy, and violent expulsion of air from the chest, caused by irritation in the air passages, or by the reflex action of nervous or gastric disorder, etc. [1913 Webster]
- The more or less frequent repetition of coughing, constituting a symptom of disease. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cough, v. & n.
--v.intr.
1 expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound produced by abrupt opening of the glottis, to remove an obstruction or congestion.
2 (of an engine, gun, etc.) make a similar sound.
3 sl. confess.
--n.
1 an act of coughing.
2 a condition of the respiratory organs causing coughing.
3 a tendency to cough.
--v.intr.
1 expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound produced by abrupt opening of the glottis, to remove an obstruction or congestion.
2 (of an engine, gun, etc.) make a similar sound.
3 sl. confess.
--n.
1 an act of coughing.
2 a condition of the respiratory organs causing coughing.
3 a tendency to cough.
Idiom
cough drop (or sweet) a medicated lozenge to relieve a cough. cough mixture a liquid medicine to relieve a cough. cough out
1 eject by coughing.
2 say with a cough.
cough up
1 = cough out.
2 sl. bring out or give (money or information) reluctantly.
1 eject by coughing.
2 say with a cough.
cough up
1 = cough out.
2 sl. bring out or give (money or information) reluctantly.
Derivative
cougher n.
Etymology
ME coghe, cowhe, rel. to MDu. kuchen, MHG kuchen, of imit. orig.
THESAURUS
cough
Aqua-Lung, artificial respiration, aspiration, asthmatic wheeze, blow, breath, breath of air, breathe, breathe hard, breathe in, breathe out, breathing, broken wind, exhalation, exhale, exhaust, expel, expiration, expire, exsufflation, gasp, gulp, hack, hiccup, huff, inhalation, inhalator, inhale, inspiration, inspire, insufflation, iron lung, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, oxygen mask, oxygen tent, pant, puff, respiration, respire, scuba, sigh, sneeze, sniff, sniffle, snore, snoring, snort, snuff, snuffle, sternutation, stertor, suspiration, wheeze, windROGET THESAURUS
cough
Wind
VB blow, waft, blow hard, blow great guns, blow a hurricane, wuther, stream, issue, respire, breathe, puff, whiff, whiffle, gasp, wheeze, snuff, snuffle, sniff, sniffle, sneeze, cough, fan, ventilate, inflate, perflate, blow up.For further exploring for "cough" in Webster Dictionary Online
