coughcoughcoughscoughedcoughing1verb (coughs, coughing, coughed)pronunciationThe word cough sounds like off.to send air out of your throat with a sudden loud noise: The smoke made me cough. see Picture Dictionary for videocoughcoughcoughs2nounwhen you send air out of your throat with a sudden loud noise: I've got a bad cough. He gave a little cough before he started to speak.