sputter

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++sput·ter /ˈspʌtə $ -ər/ verb  1  [intransitive]SOUND if something such as an engine or a fire sputters, it makes short soft uneven noises like very small explosions 发出噼噼啪啪声，毕毕剥剥作响 SYN splutter Suddenly the engine sputtered and stopped. 突然引擎啪啪响了几下就停了。2  [intransitive, transitive]SPEAK A LANGUAGE to talk quickly in short confused phrases, especially because you are angry or shocked 急促而慌乱地说，语无伦次地说〔尤因气愤或震惊〕 SYN splutter ‘What do you mean?’ sputtered Annabelle. “你什么意思？”安娜贝勒语无伦次地问道。 —sputter noun [countable, uncountable]→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

sputter• The country's transition to democracy continues to sputter along.• Since then, political parties have proliferated, but the transition to full democracy has sputtered along.• The engine sputtered and died.• The drummer passed out, the bassoonist dropped his bassoon, the trombonist sputtered and went sour.• Patients experience a sputtering downhill course and an inevitable loss of mobility.• Chaos had been averted, though strikes in the public services sputtered on.• Solano sputtered that there must be some mistake.• The engine sputtered to life with a corrupting puff of diesel exhaust.• He sputtered up and down the aisle, saying the man should be behind bars.• In both instances the sputtering war in the world outside becomes something more personal within the artificial community of these isolated characters.Origin sputter (1500-1600) Dutch sputteren

sput·ter verbChineseSyllable  

as if engine Corpus something an such

sputter
sput‧ter /ˈspʌtə $ -ər/ verb1. [intransitive] if something such as an engine or a fire sputters, it makes short soft uneven noises like very small explosions
   SYN  splutter:
    Suddenly the engine sputtered and stopped.
2. [intransitive and transitive] to talk quickly in short confused phrases, especially because you are angry or shocked
   SYN  splutter:
    ‘What do you mean?’ sputtered Annabelle.
—sputter noun [uncountable and countable]

sput·terBrE /ˈspʌtə(r)/ 🔊NAmE /ˈspʌtər/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they sputter BrE /ˈspʌtə(r)/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈspʌtər/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it sputters BrE /ˈspʌtəz/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈspʌtərz/ 🔊past simple sputtered BrE /ˈspʌtəd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈspʌtərd/ 🔊past participle sputtered BrE /ˈspʌtəd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈspʌtərd/ 🔊 -ing form sputtering BrE /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/ 🔊 [intransitive] if an engine, a lamp or a fire sputters, it makes a series of short explosive sounds （引擎、灯或火）发出噼啪声 SYN splutter ◆sputtering fireworks噼啪作响的烟火 [transitive] + speech | ~ sth to speak quickly and with difficulty, making soft spitting sounds, because you are angry or shocked 气急败坏地说；急促而语无伦次地说 SYN splutter ◆'W-What?' sputtered Anna. “什…什么？” 安娜气急败坏地说。🔊🔊