verb

cough

kof

verb

To force air out of the lungs suddenly and noisily, often to clear the throat or airway.

"He coughed all night because of his cold."

"She coughed into her elbow to avoid spreading germs."

Informal, often "cough up": to hand over money or information reluctantly.

"He finally coughed up the cash he owed."

"After hours of questioning, the suspect coughed up the truth."

noun

The act or sound of coughing, or a condition that causes repeated coughing.

"That cough sounds like it needs a doctor's attention."

How to Use Cough

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo push air out of your throat loudly (often when sick) — or, informally, to reluctantly give up money or a secret.

Common pairings

cough up the money a nasty cough cough and splutter

Word Forms

coughed past tense, cough plural, coughed plural, coughs plural, coughs singular, cough singular, coughed singular, coughest singular, coughedst singular, cougheth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He _____ all night because of his cold.

Etymology

From Old English *cohhian, imitating the sound itself — a word that has sounded roughly the same for over a thousand years.

Rhymes for cough

rough dough bough tough enough though plough slough trough clough through borough

See all rhymes for cough →