The word "sputtering" is spelled as /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/. It is pronounced with stress on the second syllable. The word means making a series of soft explosive or spitting sounds, typically as a result of air, liquid, or food being ejected. The spelling of the word follows the phonetic pattern of the English language, which is a combination of Latin, French, and Germanic origins. The "u" before "t" and "e" before "r" are typical spelling patterns in English words.
Sputtering, as a verb, refers to a process characterized by the emission of small particles or droplets in an erratic and scattered manner. It typically involves the discharge of a substance or material in highly energized bursts or spurts. The term is often used in the context of physics, chemistry, and engineering, particularly in relation to vacuum techniques and thin film deposition.
In scientific terms, sputtering is most commonly associated with a phenomenon known as "sputter deposition." This is a process in which atoms or molecules are ejected from a solid target material surface and subsequently deposited as a thin film on a substrate, typically due to the bombardment of the target surface by high-energy particles or ions. The sputtered particles are propelled away from the target in a random and often chaotic manner, creating a spray-like effect.
Sputtering can also be used to describe the sound or action produced by a machine or engine struggling or failing to start, such as a car engine sputtering before eventually igniting. In this context, sputtering implies a series of irregular, spluttering noises or weak, intermittent bursts of power or energy.
Overall, sputtering encompasses both scientific and everyday usage, referring to the expulsion of particles or droplets in a scattered pattern, whether it's related to thin film deposition processes or the erratic performance of mechanical devices.
The word "sputtering" has various etymological roots.
In its verb form, "sputter", it can be traced back to the Middle English word "spouten", which means "to spout or spurt". This word evolved from the Old Norse word "spjóta", meaning "to spurt or spit out". The sense of spitting or spouting is reflected in the meaning of "sputtering" when it refers to the sound or act of making explosive or popping sounds, as if droplets are being ejected.
However, "sputtering" also has a specialized meaning in the field of physics and engineering. It refers to a process used in thin film deposition, where atoms or molecules are ejected from a solid material's surface due to bombardment by energetic particles, such as ions.