altar

[ awl-ter ]

/ ˈɔl tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR altar ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform, at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.

Ecclesiastical. communion table.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Ara.

(in a dry dock) a ledge for supporting the feet of shorings.

Nearby words

altaic, altair, altamaha, altamira, altamonte springs, altar, altar board, altar boy, altar bread, altar call, altar card

Idioms

lead to the altar, to marry: After a five-year courtship, he led her to the altar.

Origin of altar

before 1000; Middle English alter, altar (influenced by L), auter (< Old French aut(i)er), Old English alter (OE also altar; compare Middle Dutch outaer, Old Saxon, Old Norse altari, Old High German altāri) < Latin altāria (plural), of disputed origin and formation, but probably akin to Latin adolēre to ritually burn, Umbrian uřetu let it burn

Can be confused

altar alter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for altar

In a show about single women, Sex and The City was always in a rush to get to the altar—and with a man there waiting.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement|Tim Teeman|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They might be surprised how much money they would save on altar bread.
The Great Divide Facing Pope Francis That Only Catholics Understand|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Jack was lying on the altar with the stones, that was really hard for me because I got a bit giggly.
Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey on Cersei Lannister’s Future and That Controversial Rape Scene|Marlow Stern|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He embraces her and, in a fit of demented anger and frustration, sexually assaults her against the altar of their dead son.
Game of Thrones’ 8 Most WTF Scenes: Twincest Rape, Shadow Baby, George W. Bush’s Head, and More|Marlow Stern|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Kingslayer shoves her against the altar of their dead son, and then to the ground beside it.
Game of Thrones’ 8 Most WTF Scenes: Twincest Rape, Shadow Baby, George W. Bush’s Head, and More|Marlow Stern|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Turf benches to seat a hundred and fifty worshippers faced the altar.
Pushed and the Return Push|George Herbert Fosdike Nichols, (AKA Quex)
There are several interesting monuments including two altar tombs in the Burrell chantry with fine fifteenth century brasses.
Seaward Sussex|Edric Holmes
They were making cocoa and feeding the boys out of the chalice-cups from the altar.
Leerie|Ruth Sawyer
Wax lights blaze upon the altar—many witnesses are standing round it.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 6, No 3, September 1864|Various
Both would advance to the altar, and when they were in place, the Duca would come to them.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, December 1930|Various

British Dictionary definitions for altar

altar

/ (ˈɔːltə) /

noun

a raised place or structure where sacrifices are offered and religious rites performed

(in Christian churches) the communion table

a step in the wall of a dry dock upon which structures supporting a vessel can stand

lead to the altar informal to marry

Word Origin for altar

Old English, from Latin altāria (plural) altar, from altus high

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012