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   sputter

   /ˈspʌtə/

   verb

   • 1. make a series of soft explosive or spitting sounds: "the engine sputtered and stopped"
   • ▪ speak in a series of incoherent bursts as a result of strong emotion: "‘But … but …’ she sputtered"
   • ▪ emit with a spitting sound: "the goose is in the oven, sputtering fat"
   • ▪ proceed in a spasmodic and feeble way: "strikes in the public services sputtered on"
   • 2. deposit (metal) on a surface by using fast ions to eject particles of it from a target.
   • ▪ coat (a surface) with a spray of metal particles emitted from a target that is bombarded with fast ions.

   noun

   • 1. a series of soft explosive or spitting sounds: "the sputter of the motor died away"

   Word Origin late 16th century (as a verb): from Dutch sputteren, of imitative origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. sputterer noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • U

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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