sputterert

Sputterert is a term that can appear in texts as an inflected form of the Dutch verb sputteren, although it is not listed as a standard present-tense form in major Dutch dictionaries. In standard Dutch the third-person singular present is sputtert. As such, sputterert is usually encountered as a misspelling or in dialectal writing and is best treated as equivalent to sputtert in formal contexts. The meaning associated with the related verb sputteren includes producing a sputtering sound, speaking with interruptions or stammering, or causing a motor or engine to run with irregularities.

In scientific and technical contexts, sputtering refers to a physical process in which energetic ions bombard a solid surface, ejecting atoms. This process is used in thin-film deposition, surface etching, and materials analysis. The noun sputtering, verb sputter, and terms derived from it are widely used in physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Etymology: the term is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of a sputter. Usage notes: when encountered in formal Dutch writing, it is likely a misspelling; in informal speech or transcriptions it may reflect a dialectal variant. It is not a separate standardized entry in major dictionaries.

See also: sputter, sputtering, sputtering deposition, motor misfire.