Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

alter

/ˈɔl.təɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.05 in modern English

Syllables
al-ter
IPA
/ˈɔl.təɹ/
5
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To change the form or structure of.

verb

To become different.

Intransitive verb

verb

To tailor clothes to make them fit.

Transitive verb

verb

To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).

Transitive verb

verb

To affect mentally, as by psychotropic drugs or illness.

Transitive verb

noun

One of the personalities, identities, or selves in a person with dissociative identity disorder or another form of multiplicity.

noun

Misspelling of altar.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterāre (“to make other”), from Latin alter (“the other”), from al- (seen in alius (“other”), alienus (“of another”), etc.; see alias, alien, etc.) + compar. suffix -ter.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɔl.təɹ/
  • British English: /ˈɒl.tə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

alters (present, singular) altering (participle, present) altered (participle, past) altered (past) altre (alternative) alters (plural)

Derived Forms

alterability alterable alterably alterative alterer alteringly misalter prealter realter unalter unaltering

Phrases

alter-ego alter-globalist alter-globalization alter or change mind-altering alter kaker

Frequently Paired Words

alterant alteration alternate alternative alter kaker

Synonyms

tweak headmate adapt alter amend change convert differentiate innovate metamorphose modify revamp

Homonyms

altar

Antonyms

preserve leave alone leave be let alone let be

Rhymes With

walter altar gibraltar falter halter salter psalter defaulter balter malter saulter stalter

Questions

How do you pronounce alter?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɔl.təɹ/.
What does alter mean?
To change the form or structure of.
Where does alter come from?
It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce alter

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “alter”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɔl.təɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “alter”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “alter” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.