sput´ter|er

sput|ter «SPUHT uhr», verb, noun.

–v.i.

1. to make spitting or popping noises: »

fat sputtering in the frying pan. The firecrackers sputtered.

2. to throw out drops of saliva, bits of food, etc., in excitement or in talking too fast.

3. to speak so rapidly and vehemently as to seem to spit out the words; speak confusedly and indistinctly.

–v.t.

1. to throw out (drops of spit, bits of food, etc.) in excitement or in talking too fast.

2. to say (words or sounds) in haste and confusion: »

He would sputter uneasy protest (Sinclair Lewis).

3. to emit in small amounts with slight explosions: »

A burning green stick sutters out smoke.

4. to coat (a surface) with a thin film of metal by bombarding with particles of the metal moving at high speed.

–n.

1. confused talk; splutter.

2. the act of sputtering; sputtering noise: »

When he began working with the torch…a few window-watchers seemed annoyed at the glare and sputter (Newsweek).

3. matter ejected in or by sputtering.

╂[probably related to spout (Cf. ↑spout)]

–sput´ter|er, noun.