alter

[awl-ter] /ˈɔl tər/
verb (used with object)
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.
verb (used without object)
3.
to change; become different or modified.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Old French alterer < Late Latin alterāre to change, worsen, derivative of Latin alter other
Related forms
alterer, noun
half-altered, adjective
prealter, verb (used with object)
realter, verb
unaltering, adjective
well-altered, adjective
Can be confused
altar, alter.
Synonyms
1. See adjust, change.

Alter

[awl-ter] /ˈɔl tər/
noun
1.
David, 1807–81, U.S. physicist.

alter.

1.
alteration.

alt

[alt] /ælt/
adjective
1.
high.
noun
2.
in alt, in the first octave above the treble staff.
Origin
1525-35; < Provençal < Latin altum, noun use of neuter of altus high

alter idem

[ahl-ter ee-dem; English awl-ter ahy-dem, al-] /ˈɑl tɛr ˈi dɛm; English ˈɔl tər ˈaɪ dɛm, ˈæl-/
noun, Latin.
1.
another exactly the same.
Examples from the web for alter
  • Similar to alter ego, but more specifically referring to a name, not to a second self.
  • Metal subgenres variously emphasize, alter, or omit one or more of these attributes.
  • The che proteins alter the tumbling frequency, and alter the receptors.
  • Some cosmetic lenses are deliberately colored to alter the appearance of the eye.
British Dictionary definitions for alter

alter

/ˈɔːltə/
verb
1.
to make or become different in some respect; change
2.
(transitive) (informal, mainly US) a euphemistic word for castrate, spay
Derived Forms
alterable, adjective
alterably, adverb
alterability, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French alterer, from Medieval Latin alterāre to change, from Latin alter other

alt

/ælt/
adjective
1.
(esp of vocal music) high in pitch
2.
of or relating to the octave commencing with the G above the top line of the treble staff
noun
3.
in alt, in the octave directly above the treble staff
Word Origin
C16: from Provençal, from Latin altus high, deep
Word Origin and History for alter
v.

late 14c., "to change (something)," from Old French alterer "change, alter," from Medieval Latin alterare "to change," from Latin alter "the other (of the two)," from PIE *al- "beyond" (see alias (adv.)) + comparative suffix -ter (cf. other). Intransitive sense "to become otherwise" first recorded 1580s. Related: Altered; altering.

alter in Medicine

ALT (ā'ěl-tē')
n.
Alanine aminotransferase; an enzyme in serum and body tissues that catalyzes the transfer of amino acid groups from l-alanine to 2-ketoglutarate or the reverse, thus allowing nitrogen to be excreted or incorporated into other compounds.

alter in Technology
database
An SQL Data Definition Language command that adds or removes columns or indexes to/from a table or modifies the table definition in some other way. This differs from the INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE (Data Modification Language) commands in that those change the data stored in the table but not its definition.
MySQL ALTER TABLE command (https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/alter-table.html).
(2009-11-10)
Related Abbreviations for alter

Alt

alternate

ALT

alanine aminotransferase

alter.

alteration