A condition that causes one to cough; a tendency to cough.
Esimerkit
One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.
I drew a deep breath, and a moment later wished I hadn't, because I drew it while drinking the remains of my gin and tonic. “Does Kipper know of this?“ I said, when I had finished coughing.
I breathed in a lungful of smoke by mistake, and started to cough.
The engine coughed and sputtered.
Behind me, I heard a distinct, dry cough.
Sorry, I can't come to work today – I've got a nasty cough.
He was – cough – indisposed.
To cough is to push air from the lungs in a quick, noisy explosion.
I breathed in a load of smoke by mistake, and started to cough.