English Explanatory Dictionary

alter

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To change the form or structure of.
  2. To become different.
  3. To tailor clothes to make them fit.
  4. To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
  5. To affect mentally, as by psychotropic drugs or illness.
noun
  1. One of the personalities, identities, or selves in a person with dissociative identity disorder or another form of multiplicity.
noun
  1. Misspelling of altar.

Pronunciation

/ˈɒl.tə/ /ˈɔːl.tə/ /ˈɔl.təɹ/ /ˈɑl.təɹ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-alter.wav en-us-altar.ogg

Word forms

alter alters altering altered altre

Etymology

From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterāre (“to make other”), from Latin alter (“the other”), from al- (seen in alius (“other”), alienus (“of another”), etc.; see alias, alien, etc.) + compar. suffix -ter.

Synonyms

adapt alter amend change convert differentiate innovate metamorphose modify revamp rework transform transmogrify transume variate vary tweak headmate

Antonyms

preserve leave alone leave be let alone let be

Related words

alterant alteration alternate alternative alter kaker

Derived words

alterability alterable alterably alterative alter-ego alterer alter-globalist alter-globalization alteringly alter or change mind-altering misalter prealter realter unalter unaltering
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