sputter
intransitive verb
- to spit out drops of saliva, bits of food, etc. in an explosive manner, as when talking excitedly; splutter
- to speak hastily in a confused, explosive manner
- to make sharp, sizzling or spitting sounds, as burning wood, frying fat, etc.
transitive verb
- to spit or throw out (bits or drops) in an explosive manner
- to utter by sputtering
noun
- the act or noise of sputtering
- matter thrown out in sputtering
- hasty, confused, explosive utterance
See sputter in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(spŭtˈər)
verb sput·tered,
sput·ter·ing,
sput·ters verb, intransitive- To spit out or spray particles of saliva or food from the mouth in noisy bursts.
- To spit out words or sounds in an excited or confused manner.
- To make sporadic spitting or popping sounds: The fire sputtered and died.
- Physics To cause the atoms of a solid to be removed from the surface by bombardment with atoms in a discharge tube.
verb, transitive- To eject in short bursts with spitting or popping sounds.
- To utter in an excited or confused manner.
- Physics To coat (a solid surface) with metal atoms by sputtering.
noun- The act or sound of sputtering.
- Matter emitted in sputtering.
- Excited or confused utterance.
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