What does "altar" mean?
A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
Altar
/ˈɒl.tə/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- Grammar: altar is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: altar carpet, altar desk, altar facing, altar of prothesis.
- Usage evidence: The recent scandals involving altar boys and religious leaders have undermined the faith people have in the Church.
How to use "altar"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "altar" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "altar" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "altar" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "altar" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "altar" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "altar carpet" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "altar", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
"To hawke, or els to hunt From the auter to the funt, Wyth cry unreverent, Before the sacrament, Wythin the holy church bowndis, That of our fayth the grownd is."
- 2 a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made wordnet
- 3 A raised area around an altar in a church; the sanctuary. informal
- 4 the table in Christian churches where communion is given wordnet
- 5 Any (real or notional) place where something is worshipped or sacrificed to. figuratively
"[…]now marking the end of ascetic rationalism, the monadology no longer implied a sacrifice of individuality on the altar of rationality."
Synonyms
All synonyms altar carpetaltar deskaltar facingaltar of prothesisaltar railaltar side
Example
"The recent scandals involving altar boys and religious leaders have undermined the faith people have in the Church."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "altar"?
Common synonyms include: altar carpet, altar desk, altar facing, altar of prothesis, altar rail, altar side.
How do you use "altar" in a sentence?
The recent scandals involving altar boys and religious leaders have undermined the faith people have in the Church.
How do you pronounce "altar"?
Pronounced /ˈɒl.tə/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English auter, inherited from Old English altar and borrowed from Old French auter, both derived from Latin altāre, probably related to adolere (“burn”); thus "burning place", influenced by altus (“high”). Displaced native Middle English wēved.