I. ˈspləd.ə(r), -ətə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of splutter (II)
1. : a confused noise (as of hasty speaking)
a few splutters from the other end, then laughter — New York Herald Tribune
an occasional splutter of birds among the leaves — Gerald Durrell
2. : a loud or violent splashing or sputtering
dumped them overside with a sizzle and a splutter — C.S.Forester
splutter of rain came hissing down the chimney — J.C.Powys
the flaming splutter of the volcano and the rending crash of the earthquake — W.E.Swinton
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. : to speak hastily and indistinctly
hardly a man in authority today who does not … splutter at some of the restrictions — F.L.Allen
2. : to make a series of sudden short crackling or popping sounds : sputter
bacon spluttering in the kitchen — Jan de Hartog
steam hammer thudding … and the electric arcs spluttering — Gavin Casey
3. : to hurry noisily : bustle
the last bus spluttered down the highway — D.C.Peattie
transitive verb
1. : to utter hastily and indistinctly : stammer
he splutters a series of observations and analyses which are individually coherent — Robert Halsband
— often used with out or forth
2. : to scatter by or as if by splashing
a plane … spluttering cannon fire — H.E.Bates