Cough (verb)

1. To force air out of one's lungs with a sudden explosive sound.
2. To make a sudden explosive sound in one"s throat, typically as a result of an irritation in one"s airways.
3. To clear one's throat with a sudden explosive sound.

Origin:

From middle english coughen, from old english coccian, from proto-germanic *kukkōną ("to cough"), from proto-indo-european *gēg- ("to make a nois.e")

Examples:

1. He coughed to clear his throat.
2. The smoke made her cough.
3. The baby coughed in the middle of the night.
4. Coughing is a symptom of a cold.
5. The patient coughed into a tissue.