al·ter·a·tion

(ôl′tə-rā′shən)

1. The act or procedure of altering.

2. The condition resulting from altering; modification.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alteration

(ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃən)

1. an adjustment, change, or modification

2. the act of altering or state of being altered

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

al•ter•a•tion

(ˌɔl təˈreɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the act of altering or the state of being altered.

2. a change; modification.

[1350–1400]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	alteration - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago" change, modification acceleration - an increase in rate of change; "modern science caused an acceleration of cultural change" deceleration, retardation, slowing - a decrease in rate of change; "the deceleration of the arms race" happening, natural event, occurrence, occurrent - an event that happens avulsion - an abrupt change in the course of a stream that forms the boundary between two parcels of land resulting in the loss of part of the land of one landowner and a consequent increase in the land of another break - an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion); "then there was a break in her voice" mutation - a change or alteration in form or qualities sublimation - (psychology) modifying the natural expression of an impulse or instinct (especially a sexual one) to one that is socially acceptable surprise - a sudden unexpected event nascence, nascency, nativity, birth - the event of being born; "they celebrated the birth of their first child" breakup, separation, detachment - coming apart vagary - an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.); "the vagaries of the weather"; "his wealth fluctuates with the vagaries of the stock market"; "he has dealt with human vagaries for many years" variation, fluctuation - an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change conversion - a change of religion; "his conversion to the Catholic faith" death, decease, expiry - the event of dying or departure from life; "her death came as a terrible shock"; "upon your decease the capital will pass to your grandchildren" decrease, lessening, drop-off - a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales" destabilization - an event that causes a loss of equilibrium (as of a ship or aircraft) increase - a change resulting in an increase; "the increase is scheduled for next month" easing, moderation, relief - a change for the better deformation - alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it transition - a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another transformation, transmutation, shift - a qualitative change sparkling, twinkle, scintillation - a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash shimmer, play - a weak and tremulous light; "the shimmer of colors on iridescent feathers"; "the play of light on the water" transmutation - (physics) the change of one chemical element into another (as by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment); "the transmutation of base metals into gold proved to be impossible" damage, impairment, harm - the occurrence of a change for the worse development - a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation; "recent developments in Iraq"; "what a revolting development!" revolution - a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving; "the industrial revolution was also a cultural revolution" chromosomal mutation, genetic mutation, mutation - (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism sex change - a change in a person's physical sexual characteristics (as by surgery and hormone treatments) loss of consciousness - the occurrence of a loss of the ability to perceive and respond
	2.	alteration - the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment) modification, adjustment laxation, loosening - the act of making something less tight tightening - the act of making something tighter; "the tightening of economic controls" change - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election" accommodation - (physiology) the automatic adjustment in focal length of the natural lens of the eye adaptation - (physiology) the responsive adjustment of a sense organ (as the eye) to varying conditions (as of light) tune - the adjustment of a radio receiver or other circuit to a required frequency
	3.	alteration - the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification); "it would require a drastic revision of his opinion" revision distraction, misdirection - the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something; "conjurers are experts at misdirection" modulation - the act of modifying or adjusting according to due measure and proportion (as with regard to artistic effect) qualification - the act of modifying or changing the strength of some idea; "his new position involves a qualification of his party's platform" reorganization - an extensive alteration of the structure of a corporation or government; "after the takeover there was a thorough reorganization"; "the reorganization was prescribed by federal bankruptcy laws" translation, transformation - the act of changing in form or shape or appearance; "a photograph is a translation of a scene onto a two-dimensional surface" metamorphosis, transfiguration - a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting"

alteration

noun

1. change, adjustment, shift, amendment, conversion, modification Making some simple alterations to your diet will make you feel fitter.

2. adjustment, change, amendment, variation, conversion, transformation, adaptation, difference, revision, modification, remodelling, reformation, diversification, makeover, metamorphosis, variance, reshaping, transmutation Her jacket and skirt were still awaiting alteration.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

alteration

noun

The process or result of making or becoming different:

change, modification, mutation, permutation, variation.

Translations

تَعْدِيل، تَبْدِيل

úpravazměna

ændringforandring

Änderung Abänderung

τροποποίηση

alteración cambio modificación

altération modification transformation

breyting

alterazione cambiamento

endring forandring

değişiklikdüzeltme

改动

alteration

[ˌɒltəˈreɪʃən] N

1. (= change) (to text) → modificación f, cambio m; (esp for the worse) → alteración f (in, to de) (to painting, speech etc) → retoque m (Sew) → arreglo m
to make alterations to [+ building, text] → hacer modificaciones en; [+ dress] → hacer arreglos a

2. alterations (Archit) → reformas fpl

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

alteration

[ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ^ən]

n (= change) → changement m, modification f
timetable subject to alteration → horaires sujets à modifications
an alteration to sth [+ rules, programme, timetable, arrangements] → un changement à qch
to make an alteration to sth [+ rules, programme, timetable, arrangements] → apporter une modification à qch

alterations npl

(to garment, suit, curtains) → retouches fpl

(to building) → transformations fpl
alterations to sth [+ building, house] → transformations sur qch

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

alteration

n (= change) → Änderung f; (= modification) → (Ab)änderung f; (of appearance) → Veränderung f; a complete alteration → eine vollständige Veränderung; to make alterations in something → Änderungen an etw (dat) → vornehmen; (this timetable is) subject to alteration → Änderungen (im Fahrplan sind) vorbehalten; closed for alterations → wegen Umbau geschlossen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

alteration

[ˌɒltəˈreɪʃ/ən] n (act) (see vb) → modifica, cambiamento; (in appearance) → cambiamento, trasformazione f alterations npl (to garment, building) → modifiche fpl
timetable subject to alteration → orario soggetto a variazioni
to make alterations in sth → apportare delle modifiche a qc

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

alter

(ˈoːltə) verb

to make or become different; to change. Will you alter this dress (to fit me)?; The town has altered a lot in the last two years.

ˌalteˈration noun

The alterations he has made to the play have not improved it.

al·ter·a·tion

n. alteración, modificación, reforma, cambio.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The recommendatory act of Congress is in the words following: "WHEREAS, There is provision in the articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, for making alterations therein, by the assent of a Congress of the United States, and of the legislatures of the several States; and whereas experience hath evinced, that there are defects in the present Confederation; as a mean to remedy which, several of the States, and PARTICULARLY THE STATE OF NEW YORK, by express instructions to their delegates in Congress, have suggested a convention for the purposes expressed in the following resolution; and such convention appearing to be the most probable mean of establishing in these States A FIRM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT:

View in context

Nor is it, moreover, right to permit written laws always to remain without alteration; for as in all other sciences, so in politics, it is impossible to express everything in writing with perfect exactness; for when we commit anything to writing we must use general terms, but in every action there is something particular to itself, which these may not comprehend; from whence it is evident, that certain laws will at certain times admit of alterations.

View in context

They have been stated as amounting to an admission that the plan is radically defective, and that without material alterations the rights and the interests of the community cannot be safely confided to it.

View in context

The present draft, besides innumerable verbal alterations and improvements upon the original, is more carefully punctuated, and, the lines being indented, presents a more pleasing appearance, to the eye at least.

View in context

These meditations were entirely employed on Mr Allworthy's fortune; for, first, he exercised much thought in calculating, as well as he could, the exact value of the whole: which calculations he often saw occasion to alter in his own favour: and, secondly and chiefly, he pleased himself with intended alterations in the house and gardens, and in projecting many other schemes, as well for the improvement of the estate as of the grandeur of the place: for this purpose he applied himself to the studies of architecture and gardening, and read over many books on both these subjects; for these sciences, indeed, employed his whole time, and formed his only amusement.

View in context

I called you back to tell you that there will be a lot of workmen, joiners and all that sent down on board first thing to-morrow morning to start making alterations in the cabin.

View in context

There are six sorts of movement: generation, destruction, increase, diminution, alteration, and change of place.

View in context

But nothing contributes more to produce a clearness of diction that is remote from commonness than the lengthening, contraction, and alteration of words.

View in context

The only alteration we either of us noticed in the unhappy girl was an alteration for the better when we parted for the night.

View in context

Dashwood's happening to mention her design of improving the cottage in the spring, he warmly opposed every alteration of a place which affection had established as perfect with him.

View in context

If you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness ;but, if you cannot do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her.

View in context

It is no less worthy, to observe, how little alteration in good spirits, the approaches of death make; for they appear to be the same men, till the last instant.

View in context