Dictionary definition · sputter
noun
- the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively"he heard a spatter of gunfire"
- an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage)
verb
- make an explosive sound"sputtering engines"
- cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed"The solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of the dust"
- climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
- utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage
- spit up in an explosive manner
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).