splutter
verb /ˈsplʌtə(r)/
/ˈsplʌtər/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they splutter | /ˈsplʌtə(r)/ /ˈsplʌtər/ |
| he / she / it splutters | /ˈsplʌtəz/ /ˈsplʌtərz/ |
| past simple spluttered | /ˈsplʌtəd/ /ˈsplʌtərd/ |
| past participle spluttered | /ˈsplʌtəd/ /ˈsplʌtərd/ |
| -ing form spluttering | /ˈsplʌtərɪŋ/ /ˈsplʌtərɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to speak quickly and with difficulty, making soft spitting sounds, because you are angry or embarrassed synonym sputter
- + speech (out) ‘But, but…you can’t!’ she spluttered.
- splutter (with something) Her father spluttered with indignation.
- [intransitive] to make a series of short explosive sounds synonym sputter
- The firework spluttered and went out.
- She fled from the blaze, coughing and spluttering.
Word Originlate 17th cent.: imitative; compare with sputter.