[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/splutter.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / splutter

[← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/S/)

# splutter

«splutter» in Mova's school dictionary: **To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (splutter, splutters, spluttered, spluttering); noun (a splutter, splutters)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To speak quickly and with difficulty, making spitting sounds, because you are angry, shocked or embarrassed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#m1)

2) To cough or spit noisily, as when choking on food or water. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#m2)

3) (of an engine or fire) To make a series of short, uneven popping noises. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In stories «spluttered» shows a character is shocked or furious and can't speak smoothly. It also describes a choking cough or an old car engine starting badly. Phrases: «splutter into life», «spluttered with laughter».

### examples

- "But — but — that's not fair!" he spluttered. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x1)
- She spluttered when the water went up her nose. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x2)
- The old car spluttered and stopped. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x3)
- The candle spluttered in the wind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x4)
- I spluttered with laughter at the joke. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x5)
- The engine spluttered into life. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x6)
- "What do you mean?" spluttered the Prince. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/#x7)

### note

Regular verb; double t. Similar: sputter (more common in the USA for engines), stammer (speaking with breaks).

### In the corpora

- [The water is freezing; the Mole sinks, comes up spluttering, sinks again — until a firm paw grabs his neck.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/28-willows-ch1-part4-sploosh/6/)
- [The front-door bell clangs, and in bursts the Otter, hugging the Rat so hard he splutters through his buttered toast.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/39-willows-ch4-part3-the-otter-and-underground-homes/0/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «splutter» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/splutter/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.