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Splutter - 5 dictionary results

splut⋅ter

  [spluht-er]
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–verb (used without object)
1. to talk rapidly and somewhat incoherently, as when confused, excited, or embarrassed: When pushed for an explanation, he always spluttered.
2. to make a sputtering sound, or emit particles of something explosively, as water dropped onto a hot griddle.
3. to fly or fall in particles or drops; spatter, as a liquid.
–verb (used with object)
4. to utter hastily and confusedly or incoherently; sputter: Out of breath, she spluttered a poor excuse for her lateness.
5. to spatter (a liquid, small particles, etc.).
6. to bespatter (someone or something).
–noun
7. spluttering utterance or talk; noise or fuss.
8. a sputtering or spattering, as of liquid.
Origin:
1670–80; b. splash and sputter

Related forms:
splut⋅ter⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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splut·ter   (splŭt'ər)   
v.   splut·tered, splut·ter·ing, splut·ters

v.   intr.
  1. To make repeated or sporadic spitting sounds.
  2. To speak hastily and incoherently, as when confused or angry.
v.   tr.
To utter or express hastily and incoherently.
n.  A spluttering noise.

[Perhaps alteration of sputter.]
splut'ter·er n., splut'ter·y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Splutter

Splut"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spluttered; p. pr. & vb. n. Spluttering.] [Prov. E. splutter, eqivalent to sputter. Cf. Sputter.] To speak hastily and confusedly; to sputter. [Colloq.] --Carleton.

Splutter

Splut"ter\, n. A confused noise, as of hasty speaking. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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splutter  (n.)
1677, perhaps a variant of sputter, intensified by the prefix of splash, splatter, etc. The verb is from 1728.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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