sputter

- 2 dictionary results

[spuht-er]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds.

2.	to emit particles, sparks, etc., forcibly or explosively, esp. accompanied by sputtering sounds.

3.	to eject particles of saliva, food, etc., from the mouth in a light spray, as when speaking angrily or excitedly.

4.	to utter or spit out words or sounds explosively or incoherently, as when angry or flustered.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to emit (anything) forcibly and in small particles, as if by spitting: The fire sputtered cinders.

6.	to eject (saliva, food, etc.) in small particles explosively and involuntarily, as in excitement.

7.	to utter explosively and incoherently.

–noun

8.	the act or sound of sputtering.

9.	explosive, incoherent utterance.

10.	matter ejected in sputtering.

Origin:
1590–1600; sput- (var. of spout ) + -er ⁶ ; c. D sputteren

Related forms:

sput⋅ter⋅er, noun

sput⋅ter⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

sput·ter (spŭt'ər)

v. sput·tered, sput·ter·ing, sput·ters

v. intr.

To spit out or spray particles of saliva or food from the mouth in noisy bursts.
To spit out words or sounds in an excited or confused manner.
To make sporadic spitting or popping sounds: The fire sputtered and died.
Physics To cause the atoms of a solid to be removed from the surface by bombardment with atoms in a discharge tube.

v. tr.

[Probably of Low German origin; akin to Dutch sputteren.]
sput'ter·er n., sput'ter·y adj.

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