to expel air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner.-to expel from the lungs or air passages by coughing; -- followed by up; as, to cough up phlegm.-to bring to a specified state by coughing; as, he coughed himself hoarse.-a sudden, noisy, and violent expulsion of air from the chest, caused by irritation in the air passages, or by the reflex action of nervous or gastric disorder, etc.-the more or less frequent repetition of coughing, constituting a symptom of disease.