alter
/ˈɔːltə(r)/verb
1- change or cause to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way（尤指以相对细微但却显著的方式）（使）改变性质（或成分）：
with obj. Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage埃利奥特被说服对该段落进行修改
nothing alters the fact that children are our responsibility
什么都改变不了孩子是我们的责任的事实
no obj. our outward appearance alters as we get older我们的外貌随年龄增长而改变
as adj. altered an altered state.变化了的状态。
1.1
- with obj. make structural changes to (a building)改建（某建筑）：
plans to alter the dining hall.
改建食堂的计划。
1.2
- with obj. N. Amer. & Austral. castrate or spay (a domestic animal)〈北美, 澳〉阉割, 骟（家畜）。
派生词
alterable
adjective词源
late Middle English: from Old French alterer, from late Latin alterare, from Latin alter 'other'.