sputter

¹sput·ter

verb \ˈspə-tər\

Definition of SPUTTER

transitive verb

1

: to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds

2

: to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement <“that's ridiculous!” she sputtered>

3

: to dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles; also : to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process

intransitive verb

1

: to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth

2

: to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement

3

: to make explosive popping sounds

— sput·ter·er noun

Examples of SPUTTER

1. The motor sputtered and died.
2. He was sputtering with rage.
3. She sputtered an angry protest.
4. “You, you have to be kidding!” he sputtered.

Origin of SPUTTER

akin to Dutch sputteren to sputter

First Known Use: 1598

Related to SPUTTER

Synonyms

bumble, chat, chatter, drivel, drool, gabble, gibber, jabber, prattle, babble

Related Words

blabber, blather, bleat, blither, gab, jangle, jaw, patter, prate, rattle, run on, smatter, tittle-tattle, troll, yak (also yack); chunter [British], maunder, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter; stammer, stutter; screech, shout, shriek

Near Antonyms

articulate, enunciate, pronounce

Rhymes with SPUTTER

butter, clutter, cutter, flutter, gutter, mutter, nutter, putter, scutter, shutter, splutter, strutter, stutter, utter

²sputter

noun

Definition of SPUTTER

1

: confused and excited speech or discussion

2

: the act or sound of sputtering

First Known Use of SPUTTER

1673

Rhymes with SPUTTER

butter, clutter, flutter, gutter, mutter, shutter, splutter, strutter, stutter, utter