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expectorate

   Also found in: Medical, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
ex·pec·to·rate  (k-spkt-rt)
v. ex·pec·to·rat·ed, ex·pec·to·rat·ing, ex·pec·to·rates
v.tr.
1. To eject from the mouth; spit.
2. To cough up and eject by spitting.
v.intr.
1. To spit.
2. To clear out the chest and lungs by coughing up and spitting out matter.

[Latin expectorre, expectort-, to drive from the chest : ex-, ex- + pectus, pector-, chest.]

ex·pecto·ration n.

expectorate
Verb
[-rating, -rated] Formal to cough up and spit out (phlegm from the respiratory passages) [Latin expectorare to drive from the breast, expel]
expectoration n
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.expectorate - clear out the chest and lungs; "This drug expectorates quickly"
remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"
2.expectorate - discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth
cough - exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion; "The smoker coughs all day"
ptyalise, ptyalize, spew, spit, spue - expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth; "The father of the victim spat at the alleged murderer"
spit out, splutter, sputter - spit up in an explosive manner
eject, expel, release, exhaust, discharge - eliminate (a substance); "combustion products are exhausted in the engine"; "the plant releases a gas"


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
As Tom wended to school after breakfast, he was the envy of every boy he met because the gap in his upper row of teeth enabled him to expectorate in a new and admirable way.
“Out of nater, sir, quite out of nater,” said Elnathan, attempting to expectorate, but succeeding only in throwing a light, frothy substance, like a flake of snow, into the fire—” quite out of nater that a wound so well dressed, and with the ball in my pocket, should fester.
 
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