sputter

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: sput=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

sputter, v. i. [From the root of spout or spit to eject from the mouth. Cf. Splutter.].

•  To spit, or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.  [1913 Webster]
•  To utter words hastily and indistinctly; to speak so rapidly as to emit saliva.  [1913 Webster]

  "They could neither of them speak their rage, and so fell a sputtering at one another, like two roasting apples."  [1913 Webster]
•  To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.  [1913 Webster]

  "Like the green wood . . . sputtering in the flame."  [1913 Webster]

sputter, 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 incitement, to sputter out the basest accusations."  [1913 Webster]

sputter, n. 

 Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles; also, confused and hasty speech.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

sputter, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. emit spitting sounds, esp. when being heated.
2 intr. (often foll. by at) speak in a hurried or vehement fashion.
3 tr. emit with a spitting sound.
4 tr. speak or utter (words, threats, a language, etc.) rapidly or incoherently.
5 tr. Physics deposit (metal) by using fast ions etc. to eject particles of it from a target.
--n. a sputtering sound, esp. sputtering speech.

Derivative

sputterer n.

Etymology

Du. sputteren (imit.)

THESAURUS

sputter

assibilate, assibilation, barrage, beat, beat a ruffle, beat a tattoo, beating, bicker, blubber, bluff, bluster, bluster and bluff, blustering, boastfulness, bounce, brag, bravado, bully, bullying, bustle, buzz, crackle, dance, drone, drum, drum music, drumbeat, drumfire, drumming, effervesce, effervescence, effervescing, ejaculate, eject, fanfaronade, fizz, fizzle, fizzling, flap, flick, flicker, flip, flit, flitter, flop, flurry, fluster, flutter, frication, frictional rustling, fuss, gabble, gasconade, gibber, go pitapat, gutter, heckle, hector, hectoring, hiss, hissing, hush, hushing, intimidate, intimidation, jabber, lisp, maunder, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, out-herod Herod, palpitate, palpitation, paradiddle, patter, pitapat, pitter-patter, pop, pound, pounding, pulsate, pulsation, pulse, quiver, rage, rant, rat-a-tat, rat-tat, rat-tat-tat, rataplan, rattattoo, rave, rhonchus, rip out, rodomontade, roister, roll, rollick, rub-a-dub, ruff, ruffle, shake, shush, shushing, sibilance, sibilate, sibilation, side, siffle, sigmatism, siss, sissing, sizz, sizzle, sizzling, slang, slat, sneeze, sneezing, sniff, sniffle, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, sob, sound a tattoo, spatter, speak incoherently, spit, splatter, splutter, squash, squelch, squish, staccato, sternutation, susurrate, swagger, swashbuckle, swashbucklery, swish, tat-tat, tattoo, throb, throbbing, throw out, thrum, thump, thumping, tom-tom, vapor, wave, waver, wheeze, whish, whisper, whistle, whistling, white noise, whiz, whoosh, zip

ROGET THESAURUS

sputter

Stammering

VB stammer, stutter, hesitate, falter, hammer, balbutiate, balbucinate, haw, hum and haw, be unable to put two words together, mumble, mutter, maud, mauder, whisper, mince, lisp, jabber, gibber, sputter, splutter, muffle, mump, drawl, mouth, croak, speak thick, speak through the nose, snuffle, clip one's words, murder the language, murder the King's English, murder the Queen's English, mispronounce, missay.

Discontinuity

VB be discontinuous, alternate, intermit, sputter, stop and start, hesitate, discontinue, pause, interrupt, intervene, break, break in upon, break off, interpose, break the thread, snap the thread, disconnect, dissever.

Ejection

VB give exit, give vent to, let out, give out, pour out, squeeze out, send out, dispatch, despatch, exhale, excern, excrete, embogue, secrete, secern, extravasate, shed, void, evacuation, emit, open the sluices, open the floodgates, turn on the tap, extrude, detrude, effuse, spend, expend, pour forth, squirt, spirt, spurt, spill, slop, perspire, breathe, blow, tap, draw off, bale out, lade out, let blood, broach, eject, reject, expel, discard, cut, send to coventry, boycott, chasser, banish, bounce, fire, fire out, throw, throw out, throw up, throw off, throw away, throw aside, push, throw out, throw off, throw away, throw aside, shovel out, shovel away, sweep out, sweep away, brush off, brush away, whisk off, whisk away, turn off, turn away, send off, send away, discharge, send adrift, turn adrift, cast adrift, turn out, bundle out, throw overboard, give the sack to, send packing, send about one's business, send to the right about, strike off the roll, turn out neck and heels, turn out head and shoulders, turn out neck and crop, pack off, send away with a flea in the ear, send to Jericho, bow out, show the door to, turn out of doors, turn out of house and home, evict, oust, unhouse, unkennel, dislodge, unpeople, dispeople, depopulate, relegate, deport, empty, drain to the dregs, sweep off, clear off, clear out, clear away, suck, draw off, clean out, make a clean sweep of, clear decks, purge, embowel, disbowel, disembowel, eviscerate, gut, unearth, root out, root up, averuncate, weed out, get out, eliminate, get rid of, do away with, shake off, exenterate, vomit, throw up, regurgitate, spew, puke, keck, retch, heave, upchuck, chuck up, barf, belch out, cast up, bring up, be sick, get sick, worship the porcelain god, disgorge, expectorate, clear the throat, hawk, spit, sputter, splutter, slobber, drivel, slaver, slabber, eructate, drool, unpack, unlade, unload, unship, offload, break bulk, dump, be let out, spew forth, erupt, ooze.

River

VB flow, run, meander, gush, pour, spout, roll, jet, well, issue, drop, drip, dribble, plash, spirtle, trill, trickle, distill, percolate, stream, overflow, inundate, deluge, flow over, splash, swash, guggle, murmur, babble, bubble, purl, gurgle, sputter, spurt, spray, regurgitate, ooze, flow out, rain hard, rain in torrents, rain cats and dogs, rain pitchforks, pour with rain, drizzle, spit, set in, mizzle, flow into, fall into, open into, drain into, discharge itself, disembogue, pour, pour out, shower down, irrigate, drench, spill, splash, stanch, dam, up, obstruct.