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altercation

[ awl-ter-key-shuhn ]
/ ˌɔl tərˈkeɪ ʃən /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR altercation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a heated or angry dispute; noisy argument or controversy.

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RELATED WORDS

flap, brawl, run-in, argument, wrangle, fracas, tiff, blowup, quarrel, bickering, embroilment, rumble, fuss, beef, contest, controversy, go, hassle, brush, words

Nearby words

  1. alterable,
  2. alterant,
  3. alteration,
  4. alterative,
  5. altercate,
  6. altered chord,
  7. altered state of consciousness,
  8. altern,
  9. alternans,
  10. alternant

Origin of altercation

1350–1400; Middle English altercacioun < Latin altercātiōn- (stem of altercātiō). See altercate, -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for altercation

British Dictionary definitions for altercation

altercation

/ (ˌɔːltəˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

an angry or heated discussion or quarrel; argument
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

Word Origin and History for altercation

altercation

n.

late 14c., from Old French altercacion (12c.) and directly from Latin altercationem (nominative altercatio) "a dispute, debate, discussion," noun of action from past participle stem of altercari "to dispute (with another)," from alter "other" (see alter).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper