名詞 falter:

1. the act of pausing uncertainly
   同義詞：hesitation, waver, faltering

動(dòng)詞 falter:

1. be unsure or weak
   同義詞：waver
2. move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
   同義詞：waver
3. walk unsteadily
   同義詞：stumble, bumble
4. speak haltingly
   同義詞：bumble, stutter, stammer

1. I faltered for a while and was still unable to make a decision.
   我躊躇了一陣，還是無法做決定。
2. The business faltered and then failed.
   商行生意衰退，最后倒閉了。
3. The sick man faltered a few steps and then fell.
   這個(gè)病人搖搖晃晃地走了幾步，然后就跌倒了。

fal.ter

v.intr.（不及物動(dòng)詞）
fal.tered,fal.ter.ing,fal.ters
To be unsteady in purpose or action, as from loss of courage or confidence; waver.See Synonyms at hesitate
膽怯：意向或行動(dòng)上的不堅(jiān)定，如由于失去勇氣或信心；動(dòng)搖參見 hesitate
To speak hesitatingly; stammer.
講話猶豫；支吾地講話

To move ineptly or haltingly; stumble.
步伐踉蹌；蹣跚
To operate or perform unsteadily or with a loss of effectiveness:
失效：由于失去效力而運(yùn)行不穩(wěn)固：
例句：
The automobile engine faltered.
自動(dòng)引擎運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)不正常

n.（名詞）
Unsteadiness in speech or action.
支吾：言語或行動(dòng)的猶豫
A faltering sound.
發(fā)顫的聲音

來源：
Middle English falteren [to stagger]
中古英語 falteren [蹣跚]
possibly from Old Norse faltrask [to be puzzled, hesitate]
可能源自 古斯堪的納維亞語 faltrask [被迷惑，猶豫]

【引伸】
fal.terer
n.（名詞）
fal.teringly
adv.（副詞）