WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
al•ter /ˈɔltɚ/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to change;
(to cause to) be different or modified in some way, as size, style, course, or the like: [~ + object]to alter a coat.[no object]Her schedule has altered drastically. - Veterinary Diseases to castrate or spay:[~ + object]The cat had been altered.
al•ter
(ôl′tər),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
al′ter•er, n.
Al•ter (ôl′tər),USA pronunciation n.
alter.,
- 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. - Veterinary Diseasesto castrate or spay.
v.i.
- to change;
become different or modified.
- Late Latin alterāre to change, worsen, derivative of Latin alter other
- Old French alterer
- Middle English 1350–1400
- 1. See adjust, change.
Al•ter (ôl′tər),USA pronunciation n.
- Biographical David, 1807–81, U.S. physicist.
alter.,
- alteration.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'altered' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
adultery
- advance
- advantage
- adventure
- afar
- agrimony
- aitchbone
- ajar
- alteration
- Althorp House
- banisters
- boil down
- Boxer
- cloze test
- cocoa
- corruption
- court card
- cri de coeur
- default
- diabase
- euphonic
- fishgig
- flow
- frosh
- fugue
- fundamentally
- gaboon
- gammy
- genetically modified
- groyne
- high
- illusion
- intoxication
- lapwing
- liposculpture
- liveyer
- maleic acid
- malonic acid
- manganese
- metamorphic
- milk
- moniker
- naira
- pigeon
- pliable
- Plomer
- pram
- prednisolone
- prion
- prunella