Of salts and minerals, to crackle when heated, indicating a sudden breakdown of their particles.
To roast (a salt or mineral) until it stops crackling in the fire.
To cause surface atoms or electrons of a solid to be ejected by bombarding it with heavy atoms or ions.
To emit saliva or spit from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in rapid speaking.
To coat the surface of an object by sputtering.
To speak so rapidly as to emit saliva; to utter words hastily and indistinctly, with a spluttering sound, as in rage.
To throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one sputtering.
Moist matter thrown out in small detached particles.
Confused and hasty speech.