English French Spanish More dictionaries More

Definition of 'alter'

Word Frequency

alter

(ɔltər )

Word forms: alters, altering, altered

transitive verb/intransitive verb

If something alters or if you alter it, it changes.

Nothing has altered and the deadline still stands.

Synonyms: change, turn, vary, transform More Synonyms of alter

More Synonyms of alter

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of
alter

Youtube video

You may also like

English Quiz

Synonyms of

Language Lover's

Language Lover's

French Translation of

French Translation of

Translate

Pronunciation

Word of the day: back end

Word of the day:

Spanish Translation of

Spanish Translation of

NEW from

English

Collins

Word Frequency

alter in American English

(ˈɔltər )

verb transitive

1.

to make different in details but not in substance; modify

2.

to resew parts of (a garment) for a better fit

3. US

to castrate or spay

verb intransitive

4.

to become different; change; vary

SIMILAR WORDS: change

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

alterable (ˈalterable)

adjective

Word origin

ME alteren < ML alterare < L alter, other < IE *al- (see else) + -tero-, compar. suffix

Word Frequency

alter in American English

(ˈɔltər)

transitive verb

1.

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

2.

to castrate or spay

intransitive verb

3.

to change; become different or modified

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Derived forms

alterer

noun

Word origin

[1350–1400; ME ‹ OF alterer ‹ LL alterāre to change, worsen, deriv. of L alter other]

Word Frequency

alter. in American English

abbreviation

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Word Frequency

alter in British English

(ˈɔːltə )

verb

1.

to make or become different in some respect; change

2. (transitive) informal, mainly US a euphemistic word for castrate, spay

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

alterable (ˈalterable)

adjective

alterably (ˈalterably)

adverb

alterability (ˌalteraˈbility)

noun

Word origin

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

Examples of 'alter' in a sentence
alter

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Industrial policy means intervening to alter the structure of production to benefit sectors that are thought to offer better prospects for growth.He didn't expect me to change or alter my work pattern.No amount of political manoeuvring can alter the fact that Heathrow is in the wrong place.If you turn it into something which people would prefer to see, you are altering the facts of history. Negotiations in the past two months have centred on altering the balance of the offer, as well as raising the price.That goal, he now reflects, altered the course of his life more than he had expected.Without altering its structure the landscape shrugged off the works of man.These pulses make you alter your position and stop snoring.With his departure there was an incident that almost altered the course of the war.His business cards play on this alter ego.

Show more...

Trends of
alter

View usage over:

In other languages
alter

British English: alter /ˈɔːltə/ VERB

If something alters, or if you alter it, it changes.

Not much had altered in the village.

American English: alter /ˈɔltər/
Arabic: يُبَدِّلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: alterar
Chinese: 改变
Croatian: promijeniti
Czech: změnit (se)
Danish: ændre
Dutch: veranderen
European Spanish: alterar
Finnish: muuttaa toisenlaiseksi
French: altérer
German: ändern
Greek: αλλάζω
Italian: modificare
Japanese: 変更する
Korean: ...을 바꾸다
Norwegian: endre
Polish: zmienić
European Portuguese: alterar
Romanian: a schimba"a altera,
Russian: изменять
Spanish: alterar
Swedish: ändra
Thai: เปลี่ยนแปลง, ปรับเปลี่ยน
Turkish: değiştirmek
Ukrainian: змінювати
Vietnamese: thay đổi

Translate your text for free

Browse alphabetically
alter

Related terms of
alter

Source

Definition of alter from the Collins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

scent or sent?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

sent

scent

He a basket of fruit and a card.

gone or went?

Which version is correct?

Gladys had just gone into the kitchen. Gladys had just went into the kitchen.

foul or fowl?

Which version is correct?

The smell was really quite foul. The smell was really quite fowl.

driven or drove?

Which version is correct?

I driven into town and went to a restaurant. I drove into town and went to a restaurant.

geezer or geyser?

Which version is correct?

Do you know this geezer? Do you know this geyser?

Your score:

Sep 19, 2021

Word of the day

back end

autumn

SEE FULL DEFINITION

SEE PREVIOUS WORDS

Latest Word Submissions

participial adjec... Sep 07, 2021

LFD Sep 07, 2021

pass down Sep 07, 2021

zilant Sep 06, 2021

View More Submit

9 new words in Collins Dictionary

There is a scientific bent to 9 new words added to the Collins Online Dictionary, including three types of 'blot' tests, and words relating to electric vehicles. Read more

Study guides for every stage of your learning journey

Whether you're in search of a crossword puzzle, a detailed guide to tying knots, or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your study needs. Read more

A little bird told me… 7 animal idioms

It’s new words time at Collins Dictionary and this month we see the addition of words like fingerling, net zero and emotional support animal. This month, there were a few animal-related additions. Read more

Collins English Dictionary Apps

Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android. Read more

Collins Dictionaries for Schools

Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom. Read more

We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots! Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge! Read more

Join the Collins community

All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month. Read more

Updating our Usage

There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more. Read more

Area 51, Starship, and Harvest Moon: September’s Words in the News

I’m sure a lot of people would agree that we live in strange times. But do they have to be so strange that Area 51 is making headlines? And what’s this about fish the look like aliens. September’s Words in the News explain all. Read more

Scrabble score
for 'alter':
5

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

poor or pore?

Which version is correct?

We had only just started to poor over the travel brochures. We had only just started to pore over the travel brochures.

tic or tick?

Which version is correct?

She developed a tic in her left eye. She developed a tick in her left eye.

bough or bow?

Which version is correct?

I gave a theatrical bough and waved. I gave a theatrical bow and waved.

heard or herd?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

heard

herd

She no further sounds.

dual or duel?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

dual

duel

I have citizenship of Britain and the US.

Your score:

New collocations added to dictionary

Collocations are words that are often used together and are brilliant at providing natural sounding language for your speech and writing. February 13, 2020 Read more

Create an account and sign in to access this FREE content

Register now or log in to access