What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Cough vs Expectoration - What's the difference?

cough | expectoration |

As nouns the difference between cough and expectoration

is that cough is a sudden, usually noisy expulsion of air from the lungs, often involuntary while expectoration is the action of expectorating, of ejecting phlegm or mucus from the throat or lungs by coughing, hawking, or spitting.

As a verb cough

is to push air from the lungs in a quick, noisy explosion.

cough

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To push air from the lungs in a quick, noisy explosion.
  • * , chapter=3
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.”  He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the cough'ing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about ' cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.}}
  • * , title=(Jeeves in the Offing)
  • , section=chapter XI , passage=I drew a deep breath, and a moment later wished I hadn't, because I drew it while drinking the remains of my gin and tonic. “Does Kipper know of this?“ I said, when I had finished coughing .}}
  • To make a noise like a cough.
  • Derived terms

    * cougher * cough up

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sudden, usually noisy expulsion of air from the lungs, often involuntary.
  • Behind me, I heard a distinct, dry cough .
  • A condition that causes one to cough; a tendency to cough.
  • Sorry, I can't come to work today – I've got a nasty cough .
  • He was – cough – indisposed.

    Hyponyms

    * barking cough * churchyard cough * congested cough * dry cough * hacking cough * loose cough * non-productive cough * productive cough * smoker's cough * wet cough

    Derived terms

    * cough mixture * cough syrup * whooping cough

    expectoration

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The action of expectorating, of ejecting phlegm or mucus from the throat or lungs by coughing, hawking, or spitting.
  • That which is expectorated, as phlegm or mucus.