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sputter (v.)

1590s, "to spit with explosive sounds," cognate with Dutch sputteren, West Frisian sputterje, from Proto-Germanic *sput- (see spout (v.)). Related: Sputtered; sputtering. The noun is attested from 1670s.

Entries related to sputter

spout (v.)
"to issue forcible, as a liquid," early 14c., related to Middle Dutch spoiten "to spout" (Dutch spuiten "to flow, spout"), North Frisian spütji "spout, squirt," Swedish sputa "to spout," from Proto-Germanic *sput-, from PIE *sp(y)eu- "to spew, spit" (see spew (v.)). Meaning "to talk, declaim" is recorded from 1610s. Related: Spouted; spouting.
splutter (n.)
1670s, perhaps a variant of sputter, intensified by the consonant cluster of splash, splatter, etc.

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Definitions of sputter
1
sputter (v.)
make an explosive sound;
sputtering engines
sputter (v.)
cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed;
The solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of the dust
sputter (v.)
climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling;
Synonyms: clamber / scramble / shin / shinny / skin / struggle
sputter (v.)
utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage;
Synonyms: splutter
sputter (v.)
spit up in an explosive manner;
Synonyms: splutter / spit out
2
sputter (n.)
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively;
Synonyms: spatter / spattering / splatter / splattering / splutter / sputtering
sputter (n.)
an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage);
Synonyms: splutter
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near sputter

spurge

spurious

spurn

spurt

sputnik

sputter

sputum

spy

spyglass

spyware

squab

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