Spluttering: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Middle English 'sputteren', which means to spout or spit.
• It is associated with the sound of something bursting, like a small explosion.
• Similar words include 'stutter' and 'falter', all suggesting a breakdown in smooth speech.

Psychology

• People often splutter when they feel overwhelmed, showing a physical response to strong emotions.
• Anxiety can lead to spluttering, as the body reacts to stress, affecting speech patterns.
• Spluttering can also occur in children as they learn to express themselves, indicating excitement or anxiety.

Literature

• In many classic novels, spluttering is used to depict characters in moments of great passion or rage, adding emotional depth.
• Authors like Charles Dickens often illustrate spluttering as a comedic effect to highlight a character's flustered state.
• Playful dialogues in modern literature sometimes include spluttering to convey humor or chaos in conversations.

Pop Culture

• In cartoons, characters often splutter when they’re shocked or flustered, adding comic relief.
• Movies frequently feature spluttering as a sign of character embarrassment, often leading to humorous situations.
• Stand-up comedians might exaggerate spluttering for comedic effect, capturing the audience's attention.

Science

• Phonetics studies sound production, where spluttering may refer to the sudden release of air during speech.
• In combustion, spluttering can happen when fuel burns inconsistently, leading to an uneven flame.
• Understanding spluttering in fluid dynamics reflects how liquids can be interrupted by gas bubbles, similar to how speech can be interrupted.

This word's position of #33,200 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

• ...
• 33197 hydrolyzing
• 33198 huffing
• 33199 crinoline
• 33200 spluttering
• 33201 dissidence
• 33202 unenthusiastic
• 33203 universalizing
• ...