no obj.
1- make a series of short explosive spitting or choking sounds作咳呛声：
she coughed and spluttered, tears coursing down her face.
她又是咳又是呛, 眼泪从脸上簌簌流下。
1.1
- reporting verb say something rapidly, indistinctly, and with a spitting sound, as a result of anger, embarrassment, or another strong emotion（因愤怒、窘迫、激动而）气急败坏（或结结巴巴、含糊不清）地说; （因激动而）急促地说：
with obj. he began to splutter excuses他开始气急败坏地找借口
with direct speech 'How dare you?' she spluttered.“你怎么敢这样？”她又气又急地问道。
1.2
- with obj. spit (something) out from one's mouth noisily and in small splashes喀喀作声地吐出（东西）：
spluttering brackish water, he struggled to regain his feet.
他一面喀喀地吐咸水一面挣扎着想重新站起来。
- a short explosive spitting or choking noise咳吐时的喀喀声。
派生词
splutterer
nounsplutteringly
adverb词源
late 17th cent.: imitative; compare with SPUTTER.