sputter

[ spuht-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds.
2. to emit particles, sparks, etc., forcibly or explosively, especially 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)

1. to emit (anything) forcibly and in small particles, as if by spitting:

   The fire sputtered cinders.

2. to eject (saliva, food, etc.) in small particles explosively and involuntarily, as in excitement.
3. to utter explosively and incoherently.

noun

1. the act or sound of sputtering.
2. explosive, incoherent utterance.
3. matter ejected in sputtering.

sputter

/ ˈspʌtə /

verb

1. another word for splutter splutter splutter
2. physics
   1. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which atoms of a solid are removed from its surface by the impact of high-energy ions, as in a discharge tube
   2. to coat (a film of a metal) onto (a solid surface) by using this process

noun

1. the process or noise of sputtering
2. incoherent stammering speech
3. something that is ejected while sputtering

Derived Forms

• ˈsputterer, noun

Other Words From

• sputter·er noun
• sputter·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputter¹

1590–1600; sput- (variant of spout ) + -er ⁶; cognate with Dutch sputteren

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputter¹

C16: from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

I could practically hear Galanter sputter.

From Los Angeles Times

The bloom may slide off the rose, and in a campaign with the highest stakes of our lifetime, we may be tempted to start pointing fingers and shouting again when we don’t like the VP pick, or if court-reform efforts seem inadequate, or if the memes all start to rasp and sputter.

From Slate

Meaning, if the bats still sputter through the summer, they better be ready to make some moves.

From Seattle Times

Generators roar and sputter on Kharkiv’s sidewalks, powering businesses and cafes during frequent outages.

From Los Angeles Times

A year after yielding one sack after another, the offensive line has continued to sputter.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• falter
• stammer
• stutter