Main Entry:

al·ter

Pronunciation:

\ˈȯl-tər\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

al·tered; al·ter·ing \-t(ə-)riŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Medieval Latin alterare, from Latin alter other (of two); akin to Latin alius other — more at else

Date:

14th century

transitive verb 1 : to make different without changing into something else 2 : castrate, spay intransitive verb : to become different

synonyms see change

— al·ter·abil·i·ty \ˌȯl-t(ə-)rə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— al·ter·able \ˈȯl-t(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— al·ter·ably \-blē\ adverb

— al·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun