splutter

[ spluht-er ]

/ ˈsplʌt ər /

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See synonyms for splutter on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to talk rapidly and somewhat incoherently, as when confused, excited, or embarrassed: When pushed for an explanation, he always spluttered.

to make a sputtering sound, or emit particles of something explosively, as water dropped onto a hot griddle.

to fly or fall in particles or drops; spatter, as a liquid.

verb (used with object)

to utter hastily and confusedly or incoherently; sputter: Out of breath, she spluttered a poor excuse for her lateness.

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

to bespatter (someone or something).

noun

spluttering utterance or talk; noise or fuss.

a sputtering or spattering, as of liquid.

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Question 1 of 6

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Origin of splutter

1670–80; blend of splash and sputter

OTHER WORDS FROM splutter

splut·ter·er, noun

Words nearby splutter

splore, splosh, splotch, splotchy, splurge, splutter, spluttery, spm, Spock, spod, Spode

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use splutter in a sentence

With Ambassador John Negroponte in place, halting dialogues could begin to splutter, and stutter, and stumble.
What If the Iraq War Never Happened?|Michael Ware|March 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He held up with a pride that made him splutter a little jack about fourteen inches long, which he had just caught.
The Yeoman Adventurer|George W. Gough
Our crew—two Chinamen who jested about us between themselves in a continuous splutter of Chinese.
Tramping on Life|Harry Kemp
Dolly catches her lips with her finger tips, suppressing a little splutter of mirth.
You Never Can Tell|George Bernard Shaw

And the utterers of both queries came forth on to the stoep, causing their brothers to break into a splutter of mirth.
Aletta|Bertram Mitford
A large drop of water, splashing down from the roof of the cavern, caused the light to splutter and go out.
The Boy Land Boomer|Ralph Bonehill

British Dictionary definitions for splutter

splutter

/ (ˈsplʌtə) /

verb

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

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

Also: sputter to eject or be ejected in an explosive mannersparks spluttered from the fire

(tr) to bespatter (a person) with tiny particles explosively ejectedhe spluttered the boy next to him with ink

noun

the process or noise of spluttering

spluttering incoherent speech, esp in argument

anything ejected through spluttering

Derived forms of splutter

splutterer, noun

Word Origin for splutter

C17: variant of sputter, influenced by splash

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

splutter

Origin of splutter

OTHER WORDS FROM splutter

Words nearby splutter

Words related to splutter

How to use splutter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for splutter

Derived forms of splutter

Word Origin for splutter