altar

American  

[awl-ter] / ˈɔl tər /

noun

1. an elevated place or structure, as a mound or platform at which religious rites are performed or on which sacrifices are offered to gods, ancestors, etc.

2. Ecclesiastical. communion table.

3. Astronomy. Altar, the constellation Ara.

4. (in a dry dock) a ledge for supporting the feet of shorings.

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idioms

1. lead to the altar, to marry.

   After a five-year courtship, he led her to the altar.

altar British  

/ ˈɔːltə /

noun

1. a raised place or structure where sacrifices are offered and religious rites performed

2. (in Christian churches) the communion table

3. a step in the wall of a dry dock upon which structures supporting a vessel can stand

4. informal to marry

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Etymology

Origin of altar

First recorded before 1000; Middle English alter, altar, auter, Old English altar, altare, alter; (compare Middle Dutch outaer, Old Saxon, Old Norse altari, Old High German altāri ), from Latin altāria (the more frequently used plural of altāre used in a singular sense), of disputed origin and formation, but probably akin to Latin adolēre “to make a burnt offering, cremate,” Umbrian uřetu “let it burn, set incense on the fire”

Example Sentences

They seem to be lowering Christ’s corpse, which is thrust forward from the picture plane, onto the altar below the painting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or maybe, Elizabeth Goldring impishly suggests in “Holbein: Renaissance Master,” he meant that he’d happily take Communion if only the table were more beautiful—dressed up, say, like a Catholic altar.

From The Wall Street Journal

Speaking of altars, Ms. Boston is sacrificing narrative momentum on behalf of a pretty obvious agenda—cataloging horror-movie conventions and classic devices and seeing if any still click.

From The Wall Street Journal

At this point an archaeologist was called, who discovered the skeleton beneath where the altar table had stood 200 years ago.

From BBC

Married At First Sight features single people who agree to marry total strangers, meeting them for the first time at the altar.

From BBC

Related Words

• shrine