sputter C2 Topic:Senses & Perception US /ˈspʌt.ɚ/ UK /ˈspʌt.ə/ See IPA manual Freq #86560 Meanings 1 verb to make a series of soft explosive, spitting, or popping sounds The old engine sputtered twice before it finally started. 2 verb to speak in short, confused bursts, especially from anger or surprise He sputtered an objection when he saw the unexpected charge. 3 noun a series of irregular explosive or spitting sounds The candle went out with a faint sputter. 4 verb in physics, to eject atoms from a solid surface by bombarding it with energetic particles The ion beam can sputter metal atoms onto the glass substrate. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to make a series of soft... splutterspitcough 2 verb · to speak in short, confused... splutterstammer 3 noun · a series of irregular... splutterspatter 4 verb · in physics, to eject atoms... ejectdeposit Word family Forms sputteredsputtering Derived forms sputterersputteringsputtery Related forms spatterspraystammer Etymology A frequentative formation related to spout, representing repeated bursts of spitting or spraying. It is cognate with Dutch sputteren and related Low German forms. Topics Senses & Perception External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # sputter **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** verb, noun **IPA (US):** /ˈspʌt.ɚ/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈspʌt.ə/ **Frequency rank:** 86560 ## Meanings 1. to make a series of soft explosive, spitting, or popping sounds 2. to speak in short, confused bursts, especially from anger or surprise 3. a series of irregular explosive or spitting sounds 4. in physics, to eject atoms from a solid surface by bombarding it with energetic particles ## Examples - The old engine sputtered twice before it finally started. - He sputtered an objection when he saw the unexpected charge. - The candle went out with a faint sputter. - The ion beam can sputter metal atoms onto the glass substrate. ## Synonyms - splutter - spit - cough ## Derived Forms - sputterer - sputtering - sputtery ## Related Forms - spatter - spray - stammer ## Etymology A frequentative formation related to spout, representing repeated bursts of spitting or spraying. It is cognate with Dutch sputteren and related Low German forms. ## Topics - Senses & Perception markdown