stutter Definition

stutter
verb, tr & intr stuttered, stuttering

1. To speak or say something in a faltering or hesitant way, often by repeating parts of words, especially the first consonant, usually because of indecision, heightened emotion or some pathological disorder that affects the speech organs or the nervous system.

Thesaurus: stammer, falter, sputter, hesitate, splutter.
2. To make short faltering noises.

Example: The engine stuttered into life

noun

1a. A way of speaking that is characterized by this kind of faltering or hesitancy;
1b. An instance of this kind of repetition.
2. A short faltering noise.

Example: the stutter of gunfire

Derivative: stutterer
noun

Derivative: stuttering
adj, noun

Derivative: stutteringly
adverb

Etymology: 16c: from earlier stutten to stutter.