phlegm
Coughed-up lung secretion
Phlegm is the thick mucus secreted in the respiratory passages, especially when coughed up during illness: I've been coughing up phlegm all week.
In ancient medicine, phlegm was one of the four bodily humors, associated with sluggishness and calm.
This gave rise to a figurative sense: cool, unflappable composure in the face of stress or provocation.
British culture is often credited with national phlegm—stoic restraint where others might panic.
Protective bodily secretion
- sputumExpelled lung mucus
- expectorationEjecting matter from airways
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
bronchitis · respiratory · lungs · bronchi · trachea · postnasal · sinusitis · nasal
Wet, slippery, unpleasant
gelatinous · ropy · stringy · clammy · gluey · tenacious · jellylike · sludgy
Inclined toward reflective sorrow
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- humorsAccommodates someone's wishes
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
Hippocrates · Galen · constitution · disposition · bile · blood · balance · classical
Elevated body temperature
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- coldLow temperature state
flu · bacteria · illness · sick · contagion · infectious · germs · coughing
Free from agitation
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
- unemotionalLacking outward feeling
dispassionate · coolheaded · serene · tranquil · imperturbable · equanimity · placid · self-controlled
mucus
Protective bodily secretion
- sputumExpelled lung mucus
- expectorationEjecting matter from airways
- coughExplosive airway clearing
congestion · bronchitis · respiratory · lungs · bronchi · trachea · postnasal · sinusitis · nasal · cilia
slimy
Wet, slippery, unpleasant
gloopy · gelatinous · ropy · stringy · clammy · gluey · tenacious · jellylike · sludgy · globular
melancholic
Inclined toward reflective sorrow
- sanguineCheerfully optimistic temperament
- cholericEasily provoked to anger
- humorsAccommodates someone's wishes
medieval · Hippocrates · Galen · constitution · disposition · bile · blood · balance · classical · doctrine
fever
Elevated body temperature
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- influenzaAcute viral respiratory infection
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
cold · flu · bacteria · illness · sick · contagion · infectious · germs · coughing · sniffles
calm
Free from agitation
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
unemotional · dispassionate · coolheaded · serene · tranquil · imperturbable · equanimity · placid · self-controlled · collected
apathetic
Without feeling or concern
torpid · indolent · passive · unmoved · disinterested · languid · dull · slow · unexcitable · unresponsive
- Lungslungs, lung, bronchi, bronchus, alveoli
- Respiratory Problemsasthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD, emphysema
- body fluidsblood, lymph, saliva, urine, sweat
- Unanihumors, temperament, temperaments, black bile, yellow bile
- coldscommon cold, cold virus, rhinovirus, head cold, chest cold
- filthdirt, grime, dirty, filthy, muck
phlegmexcitability
Proneness to strong reactions
hysteria · passion · vehemence · hysterics · histrionics
phlegmblood
Body's oxygen carrier
yellow bile · black bile · choler · saliva · tears