English Reference
noun

coughing

n.
US /ˈkɑfɪŋ/ UK /kˈɒfɪŋ/ cough·ing

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    the sound or action you make when you force air out of your lungs, often because of a cold.

    the act or sound of expelling air from the lungs suddenly and noisily. Countable in the sense of a single instance or a period of illness.

    Simple

    The loud coughing from the back of the room made it hard to hear the speaker.

    In context

    Persistent coughing during the winter months often indicates a viral infection rather than a simple irritation of the throat.

    hacktussis
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical

    a sound made by a bird or animal that sounds like a human cough.

    a repetitive vocalisation produced by certain animals or birds that acoustically resembles a human cough.

    Simple

    The zookeeper explained that the leopard's coughing was actually a way to mark its territory.

    In context

    Ornithologists noted that the specific coughing of the lyrebird was a perfect mimicry of the local hikers.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated