v (1)咳嗽(send out air from the lungs and out of the mouth with a loud noise，esp to clear one's throat or when one has a cold，etc)[I]：She～ed to clear her throat.她咳了一下以清清嗓子。～badly/nervously咳得厉害;Cover your mouth when you～.咳嗽时遮住嘴。The engine～ed but would not start.(fig)发动机干响，就是不起动。

(2)咳出(clear sth out of the throat or lungs by coughing)[T+n，T+n+adv(up)]：～(up)blood咯血;～(up) a fish bone/some phlegm把鱼骨/痰咳出来;Try and ～up the mucus.尽力把浓痰咳出来。The car's～ing smoke.那车子直喷烟。

cough up 不情愿地说或做：C～up， who did it? 说出来，这是谁干的? With a bit of persuasion，he'll～up a few pounds.稍微劝一劝，他会拿出几英镑的。

n (1)咳嗽(病)(illness，infection，etc of the throat or lungs that makes one cough often)[U，a～]：have a (bad)～咳嗽(很厉害);have a smoker's～因抽烟而咳嗽;～medicine/drops/mixture/syrup咳嗽药/咳嗽药片/止咳混合剂/咳嗽糖浆;

(2)咳嗽(声)(act or sound of coughing)[C]：give a nervous/quiet ～拼命/轻轻一咳;I heard a gentle～behind me and turned to see someone making a sign to me.我听见身后有人轻声咳了一下，回头一看，有人在朝我打手势。