1VERB (发动机)发出噼啪声;(火焰)发出毕剥声 If something such as an engine or a flame sputters, it works or burns in an uneven way and makes a series of soft popping sounds. (发动机)发出噼啪声;(火焰)发出毕剥声
The truck sputtered and stopped. [VERB]
卡车噼啪响了几声停下了。
Engines sputtered to life again. [VERB prep./adv.]
发动机噼啪噼啪地重新开动了。
The flame sputters out. [VERB prep./adv.]
火焰毕剥作响。
...the sputtering engine. [VERB-ing]
噼啪作响的发动机
Sputter is also a noun.
All I could hear was the sputter of the fire.
我只能听到火的毕剥声。
2VERB (过程、行动或事态)缓慢不稳地进行,慢慢结束 If a process, action, or state of affairs sputters, it progresses slowly and unevenly or starts to end. (过程、行动或事态)缓慢不稳地进行,慢慢结束
The economy is already sputtering, with low or no growth. [VERB]
经济发展速度已经放慢,增长率很低,或者根本没有增长。
The battle sputtered to a halt in mid-October. [VERB prep./adv.]
战斗于 10 月中旬渐渐停了下来。
The whole thing sputtered out. [VERB prep./adv.]
整个事态渐渐平息了下来。
3VERB (尤指因生气、震惊或激动)结结巴巴地说话,语无伦次地说话 If you sputter, you speak with difficulty and make short sounds, especially because you are angry, shocked, or excited. (尤指因生气、震惊或激动)结结巴巴地说话,语无伦次地说话
Stunned, I sputtered, 'What do you mean?'. [VERB with quote]
我大吃一惊,结结巴巴地问道:“你是什么意思?”
Our father's face had reddened with rage and he began to sputter. [VERB]