stammer

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++stam·mer1 /ˈstæmə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive, transitive]  SPEAK A LANGUAGEto speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, either because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous, excited etc 口吃，结结巴巴地说 SYN stutter Whenever he was angry, he would begin to stammer slightly. 他一生气说话就开始有点结巴。 Ben stammered out an apology. 本结结巴巴地道了个歉。► see thesaurus at say —stammerer noun [countable]→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

stammer• Patterson often stammered during speeches.• Forgive me, he stammered, if I press when I should not.• Now, she stammered in his presence, gone the blustery Trudy her girlfriends knew.• Benjamin stammered out an apologetic request - how he would appreciate it if no one else was told about our visit.• Labour voices have been stammering to oblige.

Related topics: Illness & disability

stammer2 noun [countable usually singular]  MISPEAK A LANGUAGEa speech problem which makes someone speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds 结巴，口吃 SYN stutter Jeff spoke with a slight stammer. 杰夫说话有点结巴。

Examples from the Corpus

stammer• Rivers was a shy, reticent man hampered by a stammer.• He had even developed the beginnings of a stammer.• It went back to her childhood when she had been teased by her schoolmates about her stammer.• "G-g-get up, " she said with a slight stammer.• The stammer fitted Marlowe's embarrassment and Bernard got a very good press.• Speech therapy teaches people different techniques enabling them to control their stammer and help them in conversation.Origin stammer1 Old English stamerian

stam·mer1 verbstammer2 nounChineseSyllable  

sounds, and Corpus with a of lot speak to repeated either pauses

stammer

I

stam‧mer¹ /ˈstæmə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive and transitive] to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, either because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous, excited etc
   SYN  stutter:
    Whenever he was angry, he would begin to stammer slightly.
    Ben stammered out an apology.
—stammerer noun [countable]
     

THESAURUS

■ different ways of saying something
   ▪ whisper to say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your full voice: ‘Don’t wake the baby,’ Jenny whispered.
   ▪ mumble to say something quietly without pronouncing the words clearly: He mumbled his thanks.
   ▪ mutter to say something quietly, especially when you are annoyed but do not want someone to hear you complaining: ‘This is ridiculous,’ he muttered under his breath. | She muttered something about having to go home early.
   ▪ murmur to say something in a soft slow gentle voice: She stroked his hair and murmured, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be all right.’
   ▪ growl to say something in a low angry voice: ‘As I was saying,’ Lewis growled, ‘it needs to be finished today.’
   ▪ snarl to say something in a nasty angry way: ‘Get out of my way!’ he snarled.
   ▪ exclaim to say something suddenly and loudly: ‘How beautiful!’ she exclaimed.
   ▪ blurt out to suddenly say something without thinking, especially something embarrassing or secret: It was partly nervousness that had made him blurt out the question.
   ▪ stammer/stutter to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous or excited: ‘I’ll, I’ll only be a m-moment,’ he stammered.

II

stammer² noun [countable usually singular]
a speech problem which makes someone speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds
   SYN  stutter:
    Jeff spoke with a slight stammer.