Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - cough

~1 v 1 to suddenly push air out of your throat with a short sound  (coughing from smoking too many cigarettes) 2 also cough up to get something out of your throat or lungs by coughing  (You must go to the doctor if you're coughing up blood.) 3 to make a coughing sound  (The engine coughed once or twice but wouldn't start.) cough up phr v T cough something up) informal to unwillingly give someone money, information etc  (Dad's finally coughed up for the stereo I wanted.) ~2 n 1 the action or sound made when you cough 2 a medical condition that makes you cough a lot  (She's got a terrible smoker's cough.)