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sputter
[ spuht-er ]
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.
verb (used with object)
- 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.
noun
- the act or sound of sputtering.
- explosive, incoherent utterance.
- matter ejected in sputtering.
sputter
/ ˈʌə /
verb
- 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
noun
- the process or noise of sputtering
- incoherent stammering speech
- something that is ejected while sputtering
Derived Forms
- ˈܳٳٱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ܳt· noun
- ܳt·Բ· adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of sputter1
Example Sentences
The Chargers used the draft to add firepower to an offense that sputtered last season.
He started “Star Wars” as a self-absorbed teenager who refused to help Princess Leia, sputtering, “It’s not that I like the Empire — I hate it — but there’s nothing I can do about it right now.”
In addition, revenue sputtered in the first year of the program as property owners either sold off homes in the days before the tax took effect or found loopholes to avoid paying it.
The Magic made half of their 10 threes in the third quarter as the Lakers sputtered, their bad offense causing bad defense and their bad defense preventing them from getting easy baskets in transition.
Critics continue to bring up her 2019 campaign to become the Democratic presidential nominee, which sputtered out in less than a year.
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