Stutter Meaning and Definition
Stutter
Pronunciation
/ˈstʌtər/
Part of Speech
Noun or Verb
Definition
A Stutter is a speech disorder characterized by the repetition or prolongation of sounds, syllables, or words, often accompanied by physical tension or other symptoms.
Examples
- The child struggled with stuttering throughout childhood.
- The therapy helped to alleviate the adult’s stutter.
Synonyms
- Stammer
- Fluency disorder
Antonyms
- Fluent
- Mastery
Etymology
The word “stutter” comes from the Old English word “stutterian”, meaning “to stumble or falter”, and has been used to describe speech disorders since the 14th century.
Usage Notes
When referring to a speech disorder, it’s common to use “stutter” instead of “stuttering”. When describing the act of stammering, use “stutter” in the sense of “to pronounce with difficulty”.
Cultural References
- The 2010 film “The King’s Speech” features a stuttering King George VI, played by Colin Firth.
- The popular TV show “The Office” features a character with a stutter, played by Rainn Wilson.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- “Stuttering with excitement”
- “Stuttering over words”
Related Words or Phrases
- Articulation
- Fluency
- Lisp
- Tongue twister
Collocations
- “Stuttering child”
- “Stuttering adult”
- “Stuttering therapy”
Frequency of Use
According to the Oxford English Corpus, the word “stutter” is used approximately 1.5 million times in spoken and written English.
Common Misspellings
- Stuttered
- Stutteur
- Stuttering