The European Respiratory Society Task Force recommended two possible definitions of cough: (1) A three-phase expulsive motor act characterized by an inspiratory effort (inspiratory phase) followed by a forced expiratory effort against a closed glottis (compressive phase) and then by opening of the glottis and rapid expiratory airflow (expulsive phase);and (2) A forced expiratory manoeuvre, usually against a closed glottis and associated with a characteristic sound. The term Cough or any of its more specific descendents can be modified by the terms Acute (HP:0011009), Subacute (HP:0011011), and Chronic (HP:0011010). There is agreement that an actue cough lasts less than 3 weeks, a subacute cough from 3 to 8 weeks, and a chronic cough longer than 8 weeks.