Alter vs Modify - What's the difference?
alter | modify | Synonyms |
To change the form or structure of.
* Bible, Psalms lxxxix. 34
* Shakespeare
* Alexander Pope
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.
To make partial changes to.
To be or become modified.
Modify is a synonym of alter.
In transitive terms the difference between alter and modify
is that alter is to castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal) while modify is to make partial changes to.In intransitive terms the difference between alter and modify
is that alter is to become different while modify is to be or become modified.alter
English
Alternative forms
* altre (obsolete)Verb
(en verb)- My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
- No power in Venice can alter a decree.
- It gilds all objects, but it alters none.
- (Milton)
