stutter

  • 1stutter — (v.) 1560s, frequentative form of stutt, from M.E. stutten to stutter, stammer (late 14c.), cognate with M.L.G. stoten to knock, strike against, collide, from P.Gmc. *staut push, thrust (Cf. O.E. stotan, O.H.G. stozan, Goth. stautan to push,… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 2stutter — ► VERB 1) talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants. 2) (of a machine or gun) produce a series of short, sharp sounds. ► NOUN ▪ a tendency to stutter while speaking. DERIVATIVES stutterer noun. ORIGIN… …

    English terms dictionary

  • 3stutter — [stut′ər] vt., vi. [freq. of dial. stut, to stutter < ME stutten, akin to Ger stossen, to knock, push < IE * (s)teud : see STUDY] 1. STAMMER 2. to make (a series of repeated sounds) [stuttering machine guns] n. the act or an instance of… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4Stutter — Stut ter, n. 1. The act of stuttering; a stammer. See {Stammer}, and {Stuttering}. [1913 Webster] 2. One who stutters; a stammerer. [Obs.] Bacon. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5Stutter — Stut ter, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. {Stuttered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stuttering}.] [Freq. of stut, OE. stoten; probably of Dutch or Low German origin; cf. D. & LG. stotteren, G. stottern, D. stooten to push, to strike; akin to G. stossen, Icel.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6stutter — *stammer …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7stutter — [v] speak haltingly dribble, falter, hesitate, splutter, sputter, stammer, stumble; concept 77 Ant. continue …

    New thesaurus

  • 8stutter — I UK [ˈstʌtə(r)] / US [ˈstʌtər] verb Word forms stutter : present tense I/you/we/they stutter he/she/it stutters present participle stuttering past tense stuttered past participle stuttered 1) [intransitive/transitive] to repeat the sounds of… …

    English dictionary

  • 9stutter — stut|ter1 [ˈstʌtə US ər] v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: stut to stutter (14 19 centuries)] 1.) [I and T] to speak with difficulty because you cannot stop yourself from repeating the first ↑consonant of some words →↑stammer ▪ I m D d david, he… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10stutter — stut|ter1 [ stʌtər ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to repeat the sounds of words in an uncontrolled way when you speak because you are nervous or have a speech problem: Richard stuttered a reply and sat down, his face red. 2. )… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English