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cough

n. · v. · interj.
US //ˈkɑf// UK //kˈɒf// cough
  1. 1 the sound or action (n.)
    A2 Elementary Medicine

    the sudden, loud noise you make when air is forced out of your throat.

    a sudden, involuntary expulsion of air from the lungs through the glottis, typically resulting from irritation of the respiratory tract.

    Example

    He gave a loud cough to get the teacher's attention in the quiet library.

    Example

    The patient's persistent, dry cough suggested an underlying allergic reaction rather than a typical viral infection.
  2. 2 an illness (n.)
    A2 Elementary Medicine

    a medical condition or sickness that makes you cough often.

    a clinical condition or symptom characterized by frequent bouts of coughing.

    Example

    I have a nasty cough, so I am staying home from work today.

    Example

    The doctor prescribed a soothing syrup to manage the child's nighttime cough and allow for better rest.
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  1. 3 to push air out (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to force air out of your lungs with a short, sharp sound.

    to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a sharp, explosive noise.

    Example

    The smoke from the campfire made everyone cough and move away.

    Example

    She tried to stifle her need to cough during the quietest movement of the symphony, but the irritation was too great.
  2. 4 to confess (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    to tell the truth or give information, especially when you do not want to.

    to confess or surrender information under pressure; often used in criminal contexts.

    Example

    After an hour of questioning, the suspect finally started to cough.

    Example

    The detective was confident that the accomplice would eventually cough and reveal the location of the stolen goods.

    Usage

    Often used as 'cough it up' when referring to information.
  3. 5 to pay up (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    to give or pay money, usually when you are forced to or do not want to.

    to surrender money or property, typically with reluctance or under duress.

    Example

    You owe me twenty dollars, so it is time to cough up.

    Example

    The insurance company was slow to cough up the settlement funds despite the clear evidence of the claimant's loss.

    Usage

    Almost always used with the particle 'up'.
    • pay
    • fork over
    • shell out
  4. 6 ahem (interj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a sound you make to show you think someone is lying or to get attention.

    a vocalization used to represent a cough, employed pragmatically to signal irony, skepticism, or to attract attention.

    Example

    He said he was working late—cough—but I saw him at the cinema.

    Example

    The speaker paused and gave a pointed—cough—to indicate that the previous statement was a significant understatement of the facts.
Etymology 1

From Middle English coughen, coghen (“to cough; to vomit”) [and other forms], from Old English cohhian (compare Old English cohhetan (“to bluster; to riot; to cough (?)”)), from Proto-West Germanic kuh- (“to cough”), ultimately of onomatopoeic origin. Cognates * Middle Dutch cuchen (“to cough”) (modern Dutch kuchen (“to cough”); German Low German kuchen (“to cough”)) * Middle High German kûchen (“to breathe (on); to exhale”), kîchen (“to breathe with difficulty”) (modern German keichen, keuchen (“to breathe with difficulty; to gasp, pant”)) * Spanish cof (“coughing sound”) * West Frisian kiche (“to cough”), kochelje (“to cough persistently”)

Etymology 2

The noun is derived from Middle English cough (“a cough; illness causing coughing”) [and other forms], from coughen (verb): see etymology 1. The interjection is probably derived from the noun.

Word family
Idioms2 entries

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