Word
alter
Phoneticsal·ter
US/ˈɔɫtɝ/
UK/ˈɒltɐ/
Definitions
01to change something
v. to change something slightly, often to make it better or more suitable.
v. to make a structural or formal change to something without replacing it entirely.
“We had to alter our travel plans because the flight was cancelled.”
“The researchers were forced to alter their hypothesis after the initial data revealed a significant correlation they had not previously considered.”
Academic
Usage
Often used with a direct object; can also be used without an object to mean 'to become different'.
Pitfall
He went to the church to pray at the alter.
He went to the church to pray at the altar.
Do not confuse 'alter' (to change) with 'altar' (a table used in religious ceremonies).
02to tailor clothes
v. to change a piece of clothing so that it fits you better.
v. to adjust the dimensions of a garment for a better fit.
“The trousers were too long, so I took them to a tailor to have them altered.”
“She decided to alter the vintage dress herself, narrowing the waist and shortening the hem to create a more contemporary silhouette.”
03to neuter an animal
v. to perform a medical operation on an animal so it cannot have babies.
v. to castrate, neuter, or spay a domestic animal.
“The animal shelter requires all owners to alter their pets before adoption.”
“Veterinarians generally recommend that owners alter their dogs at a young age to prevent unwanted litters and certain health complications.”
American English
04an alternate personality
n. one of several different personalities that a person might have in some mental health conditions.
n. a distinct personality state or identity within an individual, typically associated with dissociative identity disorder.
“The patient described how an alter would sometimes take control during stressful moments.”
“Clinical observation focused on the transition between the primary identity and a protective alter during the therapeutic session.”
Technical
Usage
Used as a countable noun in clinical psychology.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“This can alter natural flow patterns and reduce the amount of water in rivers.” “And readers can alter their votes after reacting to comments.” “It also lists whether AI was used to alter the image.” 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.
Probably from alter ego.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Collocations
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/alter