phlegm
Phlegm (noun) means Thick mucus produced in the throat or airways, especially when coughed up during a cold or infection. Example: “His cough was bringing up thick yellow phlegm.”
How to use phlegm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gunky mucus you cough up when you're sick — or, less commonly, a person's unshakeable calm.
The "calm composure" sense is old-fashioned and mostly survives in the related word "phlegmatic."
Word forms
phlegms plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His cough was bringing up thick yellow _____.
Etymology
From Old French fleume, ultimately from Greek phlegma ("inflammation" or "clammy bodily fluid"), from phlegein, "to burn." In ancient medicine phlegm was one of the four bodily humors, believed to make people calm or sluggish.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “phlegm” mean?
The word “phlegm” means thick mucus produced in the throat or airways, especially when coughed up during a cold or infection. In plain terms, the gunky mucus you cough up when you're sick — or, less commonly, a person's unshakeable calm.
How do you pronounce “phlegm”?
“Phlegm” is pronounced flehm (/flɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “phlegm” in a sentence?
Here is “phlegm” used in a sentence: “His cough was bringing up thick yellow phlegm.”
What part of speech is “phlegm”?
“Phlegm” is a noun.
Where does the word “phlegm” come from?
The word “phlegm” comes from Old French.
How many meanings does “phlegm” have?
“Phlegm” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thick mucus produced in the throat or airways, especially when coughed up during a cold or infection.