sputter

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 dislodge (atoms) from the surface of a material by collision with high energy particles; also to deposit (a metallic film) by such a process intransitive verb 1. to spit or squirt particles of food or saliva noisily from the mouth 2. to speak explosively or confusedly in anger or excitement 3. to make explosive popping sounds • sputterer noun II. noun Date: 1673 1. confused and excited speech or discussion 2. the act or sound of sputtering

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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

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