Definition of: cough

(kôf, kof) v.i.
1. expel air from the lungs in a noisy or spasmodic manner.
—v.t.
2. To expel by a cough.
3. To utter or express by coughing.
—to cough down To silence a speaker by continued coughing.
—to cough up
1. To expel (phlegm, etc.) by a cough or coughs.
2. Slang To surrender; hand over, as money.
—noun
1. A sudden, harsh expulsion of breath.
2. A disease productive of coughing. [ME coghen, coughen. Related to OE cohhetan cough.]
—cough′er noun