Definition of expectorant in English:
expectorant
noun ɪkˈspɛkt(ə)r(ə)ntɛkˈspɛkt(ə)r(ə)ntɪkˈspɛkt(ə)rənt
A medicine which promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs.
Example sentencesExamples
- Some combine a full range of cold fighters: nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, and expectorants that loosen mucus.
- Despite its broad use in the treatment of cough, multiple studies have found inconsistent results supporting the effectiveness of guaifenesin as an expectorant or cough suppressant.
- In herbal medicine, mustard is regarded as an expectorant and secretion-loosener, and has a long history of use as a remedy for chest complaints.
- She suggested I get an expectorant rather than a cough suppressant, which is what I'd been taking.
- Medically, basil has been used as a sedative, an expectorant, and a laxative but it is not used much in herbal preparations today.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin expectorant- 'expelling from the chest', from the verb expectorare (see expectorate).
Definition of expectorant in US English:
expectorant
nounikˈspekt(ə)rəntɪkˈspɛkt(ə)rənt
A medicine which promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs.
Example sentencesExamples
- Despite its broad use in the treatment of cough, multiple studies have found inconsistent results supporting the effectiveness of guaifenesin as an expectorant or cough suppressant.
- She suggested I get an expectorant rather than a cough suppressant, which is what I'd been taking.
- Some combine a full range of cold fighters: nasal decongestants, cough suppressants, and expectorants that loosen mucus.
- Medically, basil has been used as a sedative, an expectorant, and a laxative but it is not used much in herbal preparations today.
- In herbal medicine, mustard is regarded as an expectorant and secretion-loosener, and has a long history of use as a remedy for chest complaints.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin expectorant- ‘expelling from the chest’, from the verb expectorare (see expectorate).