French Conversation · Level 39
74 words
French word
altérer
Pronunciation
IPA/alteʁe/
Meaning
- verbspoil
Example
La mauvaise cuisson a altéré le goût du gâteau.
The bad cooking spoiled the taste of the cake.
More examples
L'exposition au soleil peut altérer la couleur des tissus.
Exposure to sunlight can alter the color of fabrics.
Core concept
A once-reliable quality or fact marked by a change that weakens or distorts it.
Common phrases
altérer le goût
spoil the taste
altérer la qualité
impair the quality
altérer l'image
alter the image
Similar words
modifier: To partly change a thing's properties or form.
dégrader: To gradually reduce quality or value.
gâter: To make food spoil or lose its flavor.
fausser: To distort facts or figures so they seem inaccurate.
Definition in French
Faire subir à un élément une transformation qui réduit sa qualité, sa saveur ou son exactitude.
Word origin
The verb descends from Latin alterare, meaning 'to make another', through Old French, where a change came to imply loss of quality or accuracy.
Usage tips
- French altérer is often a false friend for English 'alter': it usually suggests deterioration, whereas 'alter' can describe a neutral modification.
Other meanings
- degradeverb
- alterverb
- tamper with ___verb
- distortverb
Related words
- altérationdeteriorationnoun
- altéréimpairedadjective
- altérablealterableadjective