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“Altar” or “Alter”

altar / alter are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

altar AO·l·t·er

  • nounthe table in Christian churches where communion is given.
  • nouna raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made.

alter AO·l·t·er

  • verbmake an alteration to.
  • verbremove the ovaries of.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“altar”

  • …large Tiffany mosaic behind the altar.
  • …include a white Vermont marble altar, altar rail, and pulpit and…
  • …was transferred to the high altar where it remains to this
  • …and presented it on the altar in front of his tomb.
  • …Heaven, along with a marble altar.
  • …of a Church and an Altar stipulates that this name must
  • The altar, pulpit and seats are of…
  • Flanking the altar are statues of Mary and
  • The wooden altar, pulpit, choir seats, cathedra, and…
  • …and refurbished, and the high altar, altar rails and side altars…

“alter”

  • …slits can seem to retroactively alter its previous behavior at the
  • …the generations worked to favorably alter the view shared by many…
  • Alter Kämpfer
  • …are developed which distort or alter the sound quality of the…
  • …antibiotics, and formula feeding may alter the gut microbiome composition.
  • …they would not have to alter their attitude.
  • Alter Friedhof Open-Air Museum (Freilichtmuseum "Alter
  • Alter county boundaries.
  • Diet can be used to alter the composition of the gut…
  • …there wasn't enough time to alter the intro, or that this…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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