Sputter

Sputter
Sputter Sput"ter (sp[u^]t"t[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sputtered} (-t[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sputtering}.] [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mouth. Cf. {Splutter}.] 1. To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking. [1913 Webster]

2. To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva. [1913 Webster]

They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples. --Congreve. [1913 Webster]

3. To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering. [1913 Webster]

Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sputter — Sput ter, v. t. To spit out hastily by quick, successive efforts, with a spluttering sound; to utter hastily and confusedly, without control over the organs of speech. [1913 Webster] In the midst of caresses, and without the least pretended… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sputter — Sput ter, n. Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sputter — 1590s, to spit with explosive sounds, cognate with Du. sputteren, W.Fris. sputterje (see SPOUT (Cf. spout)). Related: Sputtered; sputtering. The noun is attested from 1670s …   Etymology dictionary

  • sputter — ► VERB 1) make a series of soft explosive sounds. 2) speak in a series of incoherent bursts. ► NOUN ▪ a sputtering sound. ORIGIN Dutch sputteren …   English terms dictionary

  • sputter — [sput′ər] vi. [Du sputteren, freq. < MDu spotten, to spit: for base see SPEW] 1. to spit out drops of saliva, bits of food, etc. in an explosive manner, as when talking excitedly; splutter 2. to speak hastily in a confused, explosive manner 3 …   English World dictionary

  • sputter — [[t]spʌ̱tə(r)[/t]] sputters, sputtering, sputtered 1) VERB If something such as an engine or a flame sputters, it works or burns in an uneven way and makes a series of soft popping sounds. The truck sputtered and stopped... [V prep/adv] Engines… …   English dictionary

  • Sputter — Das Sputtern (aus dem englischen to sputter = zerstäuben) – oder auf deutsch, die Kathodenzerstäubung – ist ein physikalischer Vorgang, bei dem Atome aus einem Festkörper (Target) durch Beschuss mit energiereichen Ionen (vorwiegend Edelgasionen)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • sputter — UK [ˈspʌtə(r)] / US [ˈspʌtər] verb Word forms sputter : present tense I/you/we/they sputter he/she/it sputters present participle sputtering past tense sputtered past participle sputtered 1) [intransitive/transitive] to speak or say something in… …   English dictionary

  • sputter — I. verb Etymology: akin to Dutch sputteren to sputter Date: 1598 transitive verb 1. to spit or squirt from the mouth with explosive sounds 2. to utter hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement < “that s ridiculous!” she sputtered > 3. to… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sputter — See splutter. See splutter, sputter …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

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