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Alter vs Delete - What's the difference?

alter | delete |

As an adjective alter

is .

As a noun delete is

a key that may be pressed to delete something (including text or files) from a computer.

alter

English

Alternative forms

* altre (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To change the form or structure of.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxxxix. 34
  • My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
  • * Shakespeare
  • No power in Venice can alter a decree.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • It gilds all objects, but it alters none.
  • To become different.
  • To tailor clothes to make them fit.
  • To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
  • (obsolete) To agitate; to affect mentally.
  • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * alterer * alterability * alterative * alterable * alterably

    Anagrams

    * * * * * ----

    delete

    English

    (Deletion)

    Noun

    (-)
  • I lost the file when I accidentally hit delete .
  • A remainder of a music or video release.
  • Verb

    (delet)
  • To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer.
  • (computer) To hide, conceal
  • Synonyms

    * (to get rid of) erase, strike, terminate, cease existence, remove, rub out, strike out, obliterate, cancel, cross out, score, scrub, scrap, scratch, expunge, eliminate, blue-pencil, exclude, squelch

    Antonyms

    * (to get rid of) insert, maintain