Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for sputtering on Thesaurus.com Engineering , Electronics a process that uses ions of an inert gas to dislodge atoms from the surface of a crystalline material, the atoms then being electrically deposited to form an extremely thin coating on a glass, metal, plastic, or other surface. Show More
Origin of sputtering First recorded in
1900–05; sputter +
-ing1 Related forms un·sput·ter·ing , adjective verb (used without object) to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds. to emit particles, sparks, etc., forcibly or explosively, especially accompanied by sputtering sounds. to eject particles of saliva, food, etc., from the mouth in a light spray, as when speaking angrily or excitedly. to utter or spit out words or sounds explosively or incoherently, as when angry or flustered. Show More
to emit (anything) forcibly and in small particles, as if by spitting: The fire sputtered cinders. to eject (saliva, food, etc.) in small particles explosively and involuntarily, as in excitement. to utter explosively and incoherently. Show More
Origin of sputter 1590–1600; sput- (variant of
spout ) +
-er6 ; cognate with
Dutch sputteren Related forms sput·ter·er , noun sput·ter·ing·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sputtering Contemporary Examples of sputtering Sputtering , I manage a few “hut-hut-huts” with the other students.
When he finally delivered his five lines, “my mouth had frozen, so this sputtering sort of came out,” Tambor says.
But by next spring or summer, it may be someone else sputtering for excuses.
Even while sputtering out the most eye-rolling lines about his new love for the Kardashian family, he was remarkably pleasant.
In 2008, the economy was already eight months into a deep recession; in 2011, the recovery was sputtering along in very low gear.
Historical Examples of sputtering The whole face of the sea around the dock broke into a sort of sputtering .
Sputtering and choking for breath, Rawson came to the surface.
His face was afire with the drink that he had taken, and his throat was guggling and sputtering .
If you hear a sizzling and sputtering in your electric-light socket, what does it mean?
He woke with a start and looked into the sputtering glare of a torch.
British Dictionary definitions for sputtering another word for splutter (def. 1) , splutter (def. 2) , splutter (def. 3) physics to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which atoms of a solid are removed from its surface by the impact of high-energy ions, as in a discharge tube to coat (a film of a metal) onto (a solid surface) by using this process Show More
the process or noise of sputtering incoherent stammering speech something that is ejected while sputtering Show More
Derived Forms sputterer , noun Word Origin for sputter C16: from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for sputtering v. 1590s, "to spit with explosive sounds," cognate with Dutch sputteren , West Frisian sputterje (see spout ). Related: Sputtered ; sputtering . The noun is attested from 1670s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
