I. ˈspəd.ə(r), -ətə- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: akin to Dutch sputteren to sputter, spuiten to spurt, spout — more at spout
transitive verb
1. : to spit or expel (particles of saliva or food) from the mouth with mildly explosive sounds : splutter
cram your mouth so full that if you were to speak you must sputter the contents of it amongst the dishes and the company — Earl of Chesterfield
2. : to utter (words or ejaculations) hastily or explosively in confusion or excitement
sputtering protests he retired from the contest
— often used with out
began to laugh, sputtering out the story — Dawn Powell
3. : to deposit (a metallic film) by electric discharge in which positive gas ions bombarding the cathode cause it to eject atoms of the cathode metal with great speed
intransitive verb
1. : to spit or expel noisily from the mouth particles of food or saliva
talks while he eats and sputters all over the place
2. : to speak, reply, or ejaculate explosively or confusedly from anger or excitement
their response … sputtered in its indignation — F.L.Paxson
3.
a. : to make explosive or popping sounds in a spasmodic manner often with sparks or bursts of flame
the car sputtered down the road — Elizabeth Pollet
machine guns sputtered away hysterically — Erle Stanley Gardner
candles … sputter before the shrines — American Guide Series: Texas
b. : to cease acting or functioning with or as if with such a sputter
the engine sputtered, spit, and died
— usually used with out
the excitement … appeared to have sputtered out — Newsweek
II. noun
( -s )
1. : confused and excited speech or discussion
protesting with a good deal of sputter
2. : the act or sound of sputtering
can write their names now without a sputter of the pen — Thomas Hardy
would come the distant cough, sputter , choke, then catch, roar, and soon steady droning of the first planes — Benedict Thielen