splutter

[ spluht-er ]

/ ˈsplʌt ər /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

Origin of splutter

1670–80; blend of splash and sputter

Related formssplut·ter·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for splutter

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
If you've anything important to proclaim, leave it to me to give you the tip when to splutter at it.
Adventures in Many Lands|Various
He heard the splutter of the drops that clung to it as they touched the flames.
Yonder|Emily Hilda Young
A few minutes passed, then, with a final scratch and splutter Joseph flung down his pen.
The Tavern Knight|Rafael Sabatini

"Why, you audacious little spitfire," the old man begins to splutter, but Vane Charteris interrupts him gravely.
Guy Kenmore's Wife and The Rose and the Lily|Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
This was followed by a splutter of musketry, and this again by loud yells.
The Yeoman Adventurer|George W. Gough

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 Formssplutterer, 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

Word Origin and History for splutter

splutter

1670s, perhaps a variant of sputter, intensified by the consonant cluster of splash, splatter, etc.

splutter

1728, from splutter (n.). Related: Spluttered; spluttering.

splutter

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of splutter

Examples from the Web for splutter

splutter

verb

noun

Word Origin for splutter

splutter

splutter