Library / English Dictionary

SPLUTTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage)

Synonyms:

splutter; sputter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("splutter" is a kind of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Derivation:

splutter (utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively

Example:

he heard a spatter of gunfire

Synonyms:

spatter; spattering; splatter; splattering; splutter; sputter; sputtering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("splutter" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

splutter (utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Spit up in an explosive manner

Synonyms:

spit out; splutter; sputter

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "splutter" is one way to...):

cough out; cough up; expectorate; spit out; spit up (discharge (phlegm or sputum) from the lungs and out of the mouth)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage

Synonyms:

splutter; sputter

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "splutter" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

Cars splutter in the streets

The streets splutter with cars

Derivation:

splutter (an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage))

splutter (the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively)

Credits

 Context examples: 

When I passed them each a plate of the fried meat, they ate greedily, making loud mouth-noises—champings of worn teeth and sucking intakes of the breath, accompanied by a continuous spluttering and mumbling.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)