Alter meaning

ôl'tər
To make different in details but not in substance; modify.
verb
16
4
To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
verb
8
4
To change the form or structure of.
verb
5
3
To tailor clothes to make them fit.
verb
5
3
The definition of alter means to make something different without completely changing it.

An example of alter is to cut a few inches off the bottom of a dress to make it shorter.

verb
3
2
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To change or make different; modify.

Altered my will.

verb
2
1
To change or become different.
verb
2
1
To become different; change; vary.
verb
2
1
To change or become different.
verb
2
1
(intransitive) To become different.
verb
2
1
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To adjust (a garment) for a better fit.
verb
1
2
To castrate or spay (an animal, such as a cat or a dog).
verb
1
2
To resew parts of (a garment) for a better fit.
verb
1
2
To castrate or spay.
verb
1
2
To castrate or spay an animal, such as a cat or a dog.
verb
1
2
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Origin of alter

  • Middle English alteren from Old French alterer from Medieval Latin alterāre from Latin alter other al-1 in Indo-European roots
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterare (“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.
    From Wiktionary

Alter Sentence Examples

  • It's a tiny secret, one that may not alter much of anything.

  • During all this time little was done to alter the condition of the natives.

  • He pronounced the words that would forever alter her life.

  • They had slaves, but so few as not to alter the social conditions.

  • Man himself cannot increase the sum of motion; he can only alter its direction.

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Words near alter in the Dictionary