definition of
sputter

[1] #1 sputter v. make an explosive sound; "sputtering engines". wn

[2] #2 sputter v. cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed; "The solar wind protons must sputter away the surface atoms of the dust". wn

[3] #3 sputter n. [spatter, spattering, splatter, splattering, splutter, sputtering] the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively; "he heard a spatter of gunfire". wn

[4] #4 sputter n. [splutter] an utterance (of words) with spitting sounds (as in rage). wn

[5] #5 sputter v. [clamber, scramble, shin, shinny, skin, struggle] climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling. wn