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

Meanwhile, one of the biggest surprises of this tournament has been to see the USA, so dominant and powerful over the years, splutter and stumble in the group stage.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2023

The conveyor belt was ready, the empty bottles were stacked and the machinery was about to splutter into life.

From New York Times • Jul. 11, 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

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

Harry did not stay to watch Slughorn splutter: He and Luna ran after Professor McGonagall, who had taken up a position in the middle of the corridor and raised her wand.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling