Cough

Pronunciation: /kɔf/

Definitions of cough

noun a sudden, noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; the sound made when coughing

Example Sentences

A1 I have a cough.

A2 She couldn't stop coughing during the movie.

B1 His persistent cough was a cause for concern.

B2 The doctor prescribed medication for his chronic cough.

C1 The coughing fits were a symptom of his underlying health condition.

C2 Despite his cough, he managed to deliver a flawless speech.

Examples of cough in a Sentence

formal He tried to stifle a cough during the important presentation.

informal She couldn't stop coughing during the movie.

slang I think I caught a cough from my coworker.

figurative The city was coughing up pollution from all the factories.

Grammatical Forms of cough

• past tense: coughed
• plural: coughs
• comparative: more cough
• superlative: most cough
• present tense: cough
• future tense: will cough
• perfect tense: have coughed
• continuous tense: coughing
• singular: cough
• positive degree: cough
• infinitive: to cough
• gerund: coughing
• participle: coughed

Origin and Evolution of cough

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'cough' originated from the Old English word 'cohhian' which meant to cough or to make a noise in the throat.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cough' has retained its original meaning of expelling air from the lungs forcefully through the mouth, but its pronunciation and spelling have evolved to the modern form we use today.