v.
Pronunciation: ' o ̇ l-t ə r
Function: verb
Inflected Form: al · tered ; al · ter · ing \ -t( ə -)ri ŋ \
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 \ ˌ o ̇ l-t( ə -)r ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– al · ter · able \ ' o ̇ l-t( ə -)r ə -b ə l \ adjective
– al · ter · ably \ -bl ē \ adverb
– al · ter · er \ -t ə r- ə r \ noun