spatter

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
  2. noun the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
  3. verb dash a liquid upon or against

Etymology

Probably from Middle Low German or Dutch spatten (“to spout, burst”) + -er (frequentative suffix). Related to spit (“saliva”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

spattering, splatter, splattering, sputter, splutter, sputtering

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