sputtering

US: (sput′ər ing)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sput•ter•ing  (sput′ər ing), 

1. Electronics n. [Engin., Electronics.] a process that uses ions of an inert gas to dislodge atoms from the surface of a crystalline material, the atoms then being electrically deposited to form an extremely thin coating on a glass, metal, plastic, or other surface.

• sputter + -ing¹ 1900–05

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sput•ter /ˈspʌtɚ/   v. 

1. to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds:
   [no object] When the water hose broke the car sputtered and stopped.
2. to say (words) explosively as when angry or unable to think clearly: [no object]
   He walked out of the restaurant, sputtering angrily to himself about poor service.
   [used with quotations]
   "But..but..this is crazy!'' he sputtered.

n. [countable]

3. the act or sound of sputtering.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sputter  (sput′ər), v.i. 

1. to make explosive popping or sizzling sounds.
2. to emit particles, sparks, etc., forcibly or explosively, esp. accompanied by sputtering sounds.
3. to eject particles of saliva, food, etc., from the mouth in a light spray, as when speaking angrily or excitedly.
4. to utter or spit out words or sounds explosively or incoherently, as when angry or flustered.

v.t. 

5. to emit (anything) forcibly and in small particles, as if by spitting:
   The fire sputtered cinders.
6. to eject (saliva, food, etc.) in small particles explosively and involuntarily, as in excitement.
7. to utter explosively and incoherently.

n. 

8. the act or sound of sputtering.
9. explosive, incoherent utterance.
10. matter ejected in sputtering.

• 1590–1600; sput- (variant of spout) + -er⁶; cognate with Dutch sputteren

sput′ter•er, n. 
sput′ter•ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sputter / ˈspʌtə/ verb

1. another word for splutter1, ,
2. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which atoms of a solid are removed from its surface by the impact of high-energy ions, as in a discharge tube
3. to coat (a film of a metal) onto (a solid surface) by using this process

noun

1. the process or noise of sputtering
2. incoherent stammering speech
3. something that is ejected while sputtering

Etymology: 16th Century: from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin

ˈsputterer noun