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View synonyms for splutter

splutter

[ spluht-er ]

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.


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

/ 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. Alsosputter 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

“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


noun

  1. the process or noise of spluttering
  2. spluttering incoherent speech, esp in argument
  3. anything ejected through spluttering
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsplutterer, noun
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Other Words From

  • splutter·er noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of splutter1

1670–80; blend of splash and sputter
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Word History and Origins

Origin of splutter1

C17: variant of sputter , influenced by splash
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Example Sentences

With Ambassador John Negroponte in place, halting dialogues could begin to splutter, and stutter, and stumble.

He held up with a pride that made him splutter a little jack about fourteen inches long, which he had just caught.

Our crew—two Chinamen who jested about us between themselves in a continuous splutter of Chinese.

Dolly catches her lips with her finger tips, suppressing a little splutter of mirth.

And the utterers of both queries came forth on to the stoep, causing their brothers to break into a splutter of mirth.

A large drop of water, splashing down from the roof of the cavern, caused the light to splutter and go out.

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