expectorate Definition
- 1cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs
- 2eject saliva or phlegm from the mouth
Using expectorate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "expectorate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The patient was advised to expectorate the phlegm.
Example
He expectorated a mouthful of saliva on the ground.
Example
She had to constantly expectorate due to her cold.
Example
The smoker had difficulty expectorating the mucus.
expectorate Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with expectorate
expectorate blood
cough up blood from the lungs or respiratory tract
Example
The doctor was concerned when the patient started to expectorate blood.
hard to cough up or spit out
Example
The thick mucus made it difficult to expectorate.
the act of coughing up or spitting out phlegm or saliva often
Example
The patient's frequent expectoration was a symptom of their respiratory illness.
Origins of expectorate
from Latin 'ex-', meaning 'out', and 'pectorare', meaning 'to cough up'
Summary: expectorate in Brief
'Expectorate' [ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt] is a verb that means to cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs, or to eject saliva or phlegm from the mouth. It is often used in medical contexts, such as 'The patient was advised to expectorate the phlegm,' and has phrases like 'expectorate blood' and 'difficult to expectorate.' 'Expectorate' is a formal term, with synonyms like 'cough up' and 'discharge.'
