altar
[ awl-ter ]
/ ˈɔl tər /
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.
Words nearby altar
altaic, altair, altamaha, altamira, altamonte springs, altar, altar board, altar boy, altar bread, altar call, altar card
Idioms for altar
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
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH altar
altar alterDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Examples from the Web for altar
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
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