/ ɪkˈspektəreɪt; NAmE / verb
[ v ] ( formal ) to cough and make phlegm come up from your lungs into your mouth so you can spit it out
► ex·pec·tor·ation / ɪkˌspektəˈreɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (in the sense enable sputum to be coughed up , referring to medicine): from Latin expectorat- expelled from the chest, from the verb expectorare , from ex- out + pectus , pector- breast.