expectoration
expectoration — noun
1. the process by which the body pushes thick mucus up from the lungs or airways th
the process by which the body pushes thick mucus up from the lungs or airways through coughing, so that it can be spat out of the mouth
Eitan's doctor explained that expectoration helps clear the lungs after a chest infection.
Sayaka struggled with morning expectoration, so the nurse gave her a drink to thin mucus.
collocation: morning expectoration / difficult expectoration
The lab tested Chidi's expectoration and found bacteria that needed strong treatment with antibiotics.
Paloma noticed blood in her expectoration and made an appointment with a lung doctor.
In serious lung infections, expectoration brings up thick yellow mucus from deep in the chest.
- coughing up phlegm
everyday phrasal equivalent; less formal but much more common
- sputum production
the medical term for the material produced; focuses on the substance rather than the action
- bringing up mucus
less technical; often used by patients describing their symptoms to a doctor
用法筆記
Formal medical term; in everyday conversation, people more commonly say 'coughing up phlegm' or 'bringing up mucus'. In hospital settings, doctors and nurses often use 'sputum' to refer to the material that is coughed up.