altar
[ awl-ter ]
/ ˈɔl tər /
noun
an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform, at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.
Ecclesiastical.
communion table.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Ara.
(in a dry dock) a ledge for supporting the feet of shorings.
Idioms for altar
lead to the altar,
to marry: After a five-year courtship, he led her to the altar.
Origin of altar
before 1000; Middle English
alter, altar (influenced by L),
auter (< Old French
aut(i)er), Old English
alter (OE also
altar; compare Middle Dutch
outaer, Old Saxon, Old Norse
altari, Old High German
altāri) < Latin
altāria (plural), of disputed origin and formation, but probably akin to Latin
adolēre to ritually burn, Umbrian
uřetu let it burn
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH altar
altar alterWords nearby altar
altaic,
altair,
altamaha,
altamira,
altamonte springs,
altar,
altar board,
altar boy,
altar bread,
altar call,
altar card
Example sentences from the Web for altar
British Dictionary definitions for altar
altar
/ (ˈɔːltə) /
noun
a raised place or structure where sacrifices are offered and religious rites performed
(in Christian churches) the communion table
a step in the wall of a dry dock upon which structures supporting a vessel can stand
lead to the altar informal
to marry
Word Origin for altar
Old English, from Latin
altāria (plural) altar, from
altus high