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splutter

verb

/ˈsplʌt ər/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of splutter

To speak or utter words in a rapid, disjointed, or faltering manner.
"She would always splutter when trying to speak in front of a large audience."

Detailed meaning of splutter

When someone splutters, their speech is often characterized by a series of quick and indistinct sounds or syllables, accompanied by a lack of clarity or coherence. This can happen when a person is flustered, surprised, or struggling to find the right words. Spluttering may involve hesitations, stammering, or the repetition of certain sounds or words. It can also be associated with an outburst of emotion, such as anger or frustration, causing the speaker's words to come out in an erratic or uncontrolled manner. Overall, to splutter is to speak in a hasty, halting, or incoherent way, often reflecting the speaker's internal state or the intensity of their emotions in a given moment.

Example sentences containing splutter

1. Don't let the engine splutter; it's time for a tune-up.
2. I sip the hot coffee too quickly and splutter, startled by its temperature.
3. With the sudden introduction of cold water, the hot pan begins to splutter.
4. The sparks from the fire splutter, creating a mesmerizing light show.
5. In my surprise, I splutter out my drink all over the table.
6. Candles on the porch splutter in the evening breeze, casting flickering shadows.

History and etymology of splutter

The verb 'splutter' is onomatopoeic in nature, meaning that it imitates the sound it describes. It's thought to originate from the imitation of the noise made when someone speaks or utters words in a rapid, disjointed, or faltering manner. The word itself mimics the sputtering or spitting sound that can occur when speech is hesitant or words are enunciated abruptly and unevenly. 'Splutter' encapsulates the idea of speech that is not smooth or fluid, often conveying a sense of surprise, confusion, or excitement in the way words are spoken.

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Further usage examples of splutter

1. As he chokes on his food, he manages to splutter a laugh.
2. Gasping for air, I splutter as I break the water's surface.
3. We watch as the volcano begins to splutter, smoke rising ominously.
4. On its last leg, the old car manages to splutter towards the garage.
5. The poorly maintained boat motor began to splutter, sending us into a panic.
6. His rage made him splutter, words tumbling out without any coherence.
7. In the distance, the fireworks splutter, filling the sky with streaks of light.
8. The campfire begins to splutter as the last of the logs crumble to ash.
9. If you splutter in shock at the surprise, it will only make them laugh more.
10. I watch as the soda can splutter, spraying its contents everywhere.
11. As we speak, oil wells splutter, contributing to environmental pollution.
12. As the plane descends, the engines splutter, causing a wave of concern among the passengers.
13. When you splutter your words in embarrassment, your true feelings show.
14. The speaker's microphone begins to splutter, distorting their important message.