Verb: expectorate ek'spek-tu,reyt or ik'spek-tu,reyt
- Discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
"He had to expectorate the water he accidentally inhaled";
- cough up, cough out, spit up, spit out
- Clear out the chest and lungs
"This drug expectorates quickly";
- clear out, drive out
Derived forms: expectorated, expectorates, expectorating
See also: cough
Type of: discharge, eject, exhaust, expel, release, remove, take, take away, withdraw
Encyclopedia: Expectorate