cough

/kɑf/verb

To force air noisily out of your lungs and through your mouth, often to clear something irritating your throat or airway.

Example sentences

“The dusty attic made everyone cough.”
“He coughed all night because of his cold.”

Spelling and sound part ways: '-ough' here says 'off'. The phrasal 'cough up' means to hand over money reluctantly.

Related words

sneezeTo suddenly force air out through the nose and mouth because something has irritated the nose.dizzyFeeling as if everything is spinning and you might lose your balance.swollenLarger than normal because of injury, illness, or a buildup of fluid.acheTo feel a steady, dull pain, or to be the cause of such pain.healTo cure an illness or injury, or to make a wound get better.clinicA place where people receive medical care, especially patients who do not stay overnight.