/ kɒf; NAmE kɔːf/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ v ] to force out air suddenly and noisily through your throat, for example when you have a cold :
I couldn't stop coughing.
to cough nervously / politely / discreetly
2.
[ vn ] cough sth (up) to force sth out of your throat or lungs by coughing :
Sometimes she coughed (up) blood.
3.
[ v ] ( of an engine ) to make a sudden unpleasant noise
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PHRASAL VERBS
- cough up | cough sth up
■ noun
1.
an act or a sound of coughing :
She gave a little cough to attract my attention.
2.
an illness or infection that makes you cough often :
to have a dry / persistent / hacking cough
My cold's better, but I can't seem to shake off this cough.
—see also whooping cough
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : of imitative origin; related to Dutch kuchen to cough and German keuchen to pant.