splutter

American  

[spluht-er] / ˈsplʌt ər /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter hastily and confusedly or incoherently; sputter.

   Out of breath, she spluttered a poor excuse for her lateness.

2. to spatter (a liquid, small particles, etc.).

3. to bespatter (someone or something).

noun

1. spluttering utterance or talk; noise or fuss.

2. a sputtering or spattering, as of liquid.

splutter British  

/ ˈsplʌtə /

verb

1. to spit out (saliva, food particles, etc) from the mouth in an explosive manner, as through choking or laughing

2. to utter (words) with spitting sounds, as through rage or choking

3. Also: sputter.  to eject or be ejected in an explosive manner

   sparks spluttered from the fire

4. (tr) to bespatter (a person) with tiny particles explosively ejected

   he spluttered the boy next to him with ink

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noun

1. the process or noise of spluttering

2. spluttering incoherent speech, esp in argument

3. anything ejected through spluttering

Other Word Forms

• splutterer noun

Etymology

Origin of splutter

1670–80; blend of splash and sputter

Example Sentences

Peaks stretch far into the distance and the volunteer delivery vans lumber and splutter over orange dirt roads, passing vertiginous drops.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2023

Years of record-low rates have fuelled the tech stock rally but with those rates now rising again the appeal of stratospherically-valued tech stocks gets dimmer for investors, especially if their growth trajectories splutter.

From Reuters • Feb. 21, 2022

In 2004, when Mount St. Helens began to cough and splutter in a concerning manner, Dr. Moran became wrapped up in a surfeit of tasks.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2021

Certainly, it’s true that for those who once motored on, constantly producing cosily banal content every day for content’s sake, the machine has started to splutter.

From The Guardian • May 2, 2020

Dad listens when I tell him about Alicia, and about her dad and mom, and he doesn't shout or splutter or interrupt me or anything.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements