Definition

1. Noun:

   • A speech disorder: A disruption in the normal flow of speech, characterized by involuntary repetitions, prolongations, or blocks of sounds or syllables.
   • An instance of such speech: A specific hesitation or repetition in speaking.

2. Verb:

   • To speak with a stutter: To produce speech with involuntary repetitions or hesitations, often causing broken rhythm.
   • To proceed or function in a halting, irregular manner: Used figuratively to describe something that operates unevenly or with interruptions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He has had a stutter since childhood.
  • There was a noticeable stutter in her delivery during the speech.

• Verb:

  • He tends to stutter when he is nervous.
  • The old engine began to stutter and then stalled.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a stutter": To possess the speech disorder as a condition.

  • Despite having a stutter, she is an effective communicator.

• Used figuratively for non-speech contexts: Describing anything that proceeds with interruptions.

  • The video stream started to stutter due to poor internet connectivity.
  • The economy continues to stutter along without signs of strong growth.

Variants and Related Words

• Stutterer (n): A person who stutters.

  • The group provides support for young stutterers.

• Stuttering (n/adj):

  • (Noun) The act or condition of stuttering. Effective therapy can reduce stuttering.
  • (Adjective) Characterized by stutters. A stuttering performance.

Synonyms

• Stammer (v/n): Often used interchangeably with 'stutter', though sometimes distinguished by the type of speech disruption.
• Falter (v): To speak hesitantly or unsteadily; can imply a loss of confidence.
• Hesitate (v): To pause before saying or doing something.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Stutter out: To say something with great difficulty, punctuated by stutters.
  • He managed to stutter out an apology.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are directly formed from the word "stutter" itself. However, the concept is sometimes referenced in expressions about hesitant communication, such as

Noun

1. a speech disorder involving hesitations and involuntary repetitions of certain sounds

Verb

1. speak haltingly
   • The speaker faltered when he saw his opponent enter the room