Library / English Dictionary

SPUTTER

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 ("sputter" is a kind of...):

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

Derivation:

sputter (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 ("sputter" is a kind of...):

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

Derivation:

sputter (make an explosive sound)

 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 "sputter" 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:

Cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed

Example:

The solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of the dust

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage

Synonyms:

splutter; sputter

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "sputter" 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 sputter in the streets

The streets sputter with cars

Derivation:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

Synonyms:

clamber; scramble; shin; shinny; skin; sputter; struggle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

climb (move with difficulty, by grasping)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make an explosive sound

Example:

sputtering engines

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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

pop (make a sharp explosive noise)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

sputter; sputtering (the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively)

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