English Dictionary
Definition of “alter”
alter (ˈɔːltə
)
Definitions
verb
- to make or become different in some respect; change
- (tr) informal mainly US a euphemistic word for castrate
, spay
Alternative Forms
ˈalterable adjective ˈalterably adverb ˌalteraˈbility noun Word Origin
C14: from Old French alterer, from Medieval Latin alterāre to change, from Latin alter other
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
modify,
change,
reform,
shift,
vary,
transform,
adjust,
adapt,
revise,
amend,
diversify,
remodel,
tweak,
recast,
reshape,
metamorphose,
transmute,
Translations
- British English:
alter
If something alters, or if you alter it, it changes.Not much had altered in the village.ˈɔːltə VERB Not much had altered in the village.
- Spanish:
alterar
v
- French:
altérer
v
- German:
ändern
vt
- Chinese: 改变 v
- Arabic: يُبَدِّلُ vt
- Portuguese: alterar vt
- Russian: изменять vt
- Croatian: promijeniti v
- Czech: změnit vt měnit
- Danish: ændre v
- Dutch: veranderen vt
- Finnish: muuttaa v
- Greek: αλλάζω v
- Italian: modificare v
- Japanese: 変更する v
- Korean: ...을 바꾸다 vt
- Norwegian: endre v
- Polish: zmienić vt zmieniać
- Brazilian Portuguese: alterar vt
- European Spanish:
alterar
v
- Swedish: ändra vt
- Thai: ปรับเปลี่ยน vt
- Turkish: değiştirmek v
- Vietnamese: sửa đổi v
Usage examples
But he cannot alter the Ring itself, nor break its power over others.
J.R.R. Tolkien, THE LORD OF THE RINGS (2004)Chemical processes in the sea that dissolve calcium carbonate deposits alter the acidity of the water.
New Scientist (2003)Ryanair plans to cut Buzz staff to 200 from 600 and close or alter all but 12 routes from London's Stansted Airport.
Globe and Mail (2003)This would be necessary to allow payment of stamp duty on electronic documents and to alter existing land registration rules.
Glasgow Herald (2002)It seemed highly doubtful whether this extra day would materially alter the shipping situation.
Eric Newby, A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
