expectorate

See also: expektorate

English

WOTD – 22 September 2006

Etymology

From Latin expectorātus, past participle of expectorāre (only fig. banish from the mind, but literally (as in modern use) expel from the breast), from ex (out of) + pectus (the breast).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪkˈspɛktəɹeɪt/
  • (file)

Verb

expectorate (third-person singular simple present expectorates, present participle expectorating, simple past and past participle expectorated)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To cough up fluid from the lungs.
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To spit.

Translations

See also

Further reading

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