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

But while Arsenal have spluttered with two wins from their last seven league games, City are heating up at just the right time.

From Barron's

City weren't at their best in the second half, but they held on to pile pressure on spluttering Arsenal, who travel to Tottenham for the north London derby on Sunday.

From Barron's

She tried with fingers and tried with teeth, spluttering and choking, because now the knot was quite a long way underwater.

From Literature

At a time when the UK economy has been spluttering along for some years, this place smells of growth, and it looks like growth too.

From BBC

A spluttering labor market looks to be strengthening, with unemployment dipping to 4.3% and workers’ wages rising.

From Barron's