alter

[ awl-ter ]

/ ˈɔl tər /

verb (used with object)

to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify: to alter a coat; to alter a will; to alter course.

to castrate or spay.

verb (used without object)

to change; become different or modified.

Origin of alter

1350–1400; Middle English < Old French alterer < Late Latin alterāre to change, worsen, derivative of Latin alter other

synonym study for alter

1. See adjust, change.

OTHER WORDS FROM alter

al·ter·er, noun half-al·tered, adjective pre·al·ter, verb (used with object) re·al·ter, verb

un·al·ter·ing, adjective well-al·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alter

altar alter

Words nearby alter

altazimuth mount, altazimuth mounting, altdorf, altdorfer, alte pinakothek, alter, alter ego, alter idem, alter., alterable, alterant

Definition for alter (2 of 5)

Alter

[ awl-ter ]

/ ˈɔl tər /

noun

David,1807–81, U.S. physicist.

Definition for alter (3 of 5)

alt

[ alt ]

/ ælt /

Music.

adjective

high.

noun

in alt, in the first octave above the treble staff.

Origin of alt

1525–35; < Provençal < Latin altum, noun use of neuter of altus high

Definition for alter (4 of 5)

alter.

alteration.

Definition for alter (5 of 5)

alter idem

[ ahl-ter ee-dem; English awl-ter ahy-dem, al- ]

/ ˈɑl tɛr ˈi dɛm; English ˈɔl tər ˈaɪ dɛm, ˈæl- /

noun Latin.

another exactly the same.

Example sentences from the Web for alter

They dye their hair and alter their clothes, but not enough to attract attention from authorities.

North Korea’s Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit Kingdom |Lizzie Crocker |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Some of the things Lawrence had to alter from the book involved President Coin, played by Julianne Moore.

‘Mockingjay’s’ Mastermind: Francis Lawrence on the Book vs. Movie, ISIS Parallels, and More |Marlow Stern |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Both Trudeau and Alter, levelheaded as they are, are extremely meticulous about their production.

Inside the Political Fun House: How ‘Alpha House’ Became Amazon’s First Big Hit |Kevin Fallon |October 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“Democrats say, ‘The only Republicans I like are the ones I see on Alpha House,’” Alter says.

Inside the Political Fun House: How ‘Alpha House’ Became Amazon’s First Big Hit |Kevin Fallon |October 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But he said Felina could not be convinced to alter her behavior to account for the increased danger.

She Tweeted Against the Mexican Cartels. They Tweeted Her Murder. |Jason McGahan |October 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The law of nature is unalterable; God Himself cannot alter it any more than He can alter a mathematical axiom.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 |Various
It is on the whole better to give titles than to alter tariffs in return for subscriptions to party funds.

The Island Mystery |George A. Birmingham
Whether they said any thing by way of discussion I do not know—at any rate, it did not alter Tidy's determination.

Step by Step |The American Tract Society
Though, purse-proud with your riches, you strut along, yet fortune does not alter your birth.

The Works of Horace |Horace
The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government.

A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention |Lucius Eugene Chittenden

British Dictionary definitions for alter (1 of 2)

alter

/ (ˈɔːltə) /

verb

to make or become different in some respect; change

(tr) informal, mainly US a euphemistic word for castrate, spay

Derived forms of alter

alterable, adjective alterably, adverb alterability, noun

Word Origin for alter

C14: from Old French alterer, from Medieval Latin alterāre to change, from Latin alter other

British Dictionary definitions for alter (2 of 2)

alt

/ (ælt) music /

adjective

(esp of vocal music) high in pitch

of or relating to the octave commencing with the G above the top line of the treble staff

noun

in alt in the octave directly above the treble staff

Word Origin for alt

C16: from Provençal, from Latin altus high, deep

Medical definitions for alter

ALT

[ ā′ĕl-tē′ ]

n.

alanine aminotransferase

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

alter

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of alter

synonym study for alter

OTHER WORDS FROM alter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alter

Words nearby alter

Definition for alter (2 of 5)

noun

Definition for alter (3 of 5)

adjective

noun

Origin of alt

Definition for alter (4 of 5)

Definition for alter (5 of 5)

noun Latin.

Example sentences from the Web for alter

British Dictionary definitions for alter (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of alter

Word Origin for alter

British Dictionary definitions for alter (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

Word Origin for alt

Medical definitions for alter

n.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

alter

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of alter

synonym study for alter

OTHER WORDS FROM alter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alter

Words nearby alter

Definition for alter (2 of 5)

noun

Definition for alter (3 of 5)

adjective

noun

Origin of alt

Definition for alter (4 of 5)

Definition for alter (5 of 5)

noun Latin.

Words related to alter

Example sentences from the Web for alter

British Dictionary definitions for alter (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of alter

Word Origin for alter

British Dictionary definitions for alter (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

Word Origin for alt

Medical definitions for alter

n.