alter

noun

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

Misspelling of altar. [A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.]

verb

(ambitransitive) To change the form or structure of.

(intransitive) To become different.

(transitive) To tailor clothes to make them fit.

(transitive) To affect mentally, as by psychotropic drugs or illness.

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

Roots

alteralter- · Latin · other

Synonyms for alter

modifyv changen varyv reshapev transformv adjustv revisev adaptv mutatev unsexv

Synonyms & related words for alter

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of alter — including modify, change, vary, reshape, transform, adjust. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to alter

Explore words related to alter — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include overmodify, remodify, alterant, alteration, remodification, untune, achromatizing, caseates. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for alter

Common synonyms for alter include modify, change, vary, reshape, transform, adjust, revise, adapt — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does alter come from?

The word alter breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root alter-, from Latin alter (“other”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.