ALTERED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does altered mean? 

• ALTERED (adjective)
  The adjective ALTERED has 3 senses:

1. changed in form or character without becoming something else

2. having testicles or ovaries removed

3. changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

  Familiarity information: ALTERED used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALTERED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Changed in form or character without becoming something else

Context example:

he looked...with clouded eyes and with an altered manner of breathing

Similar:

adjusted ((especially of garments) having the fit or style adjusted)

changed (made or become different in some respect)

edited; emended (improved or corrected by critical editing)

paraphrastic (altered by paraphrasing)

revised (improved or brought up to date)

Antonym:

unaltered (remaining in an original state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having testicles or ovaries removed

Synonyms:

altered; neutered

Similar:

castrated; unsexed (deprived of sexual capacity or sexual attributes)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

Synonyms:

adapted; altered

Context example:

instructions altered to suit the children's different ages

Similar:

modified (changed in form or character)

 Context examples 

The researchers genetically altered the transporter to withstand the temperatures used for isolation.

(Serotonin transporter structure revealed, NIH)

RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis revealed that the bioreactor had altered the gene expression occurring in cells at the amputation site.

(Scientists Help Frogs to Regenerate Their Limbs with Bioreactor Device, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The mechanical properties of the scaffolds could be altered by varying the weave architecture.

(Stem cells grown on scaffold mimic hip joint cartilage, NIH)

This connection could be altered by removing the amino acid tyrosine from MTs.

(Microtubules’ role in heart cell contraction revealed, NIH)

In order to investigate its role, the team fed three groups of mice, on three distinct diets, to see how NPGL levels are altered.

(New Appetite Control Mechanism Found in Brain, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Such "reduced" clays are common in many parts of the world, typically forming in volcanic ash layers as rocks become altered by water that is oxygen-deprived and hydrogen-rich.

(Scientists discover how blue and green clays kill bacteria, NSF)

A team from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences genetically altered the TTP gene in mice, so that the animals produced higher than normal amounts of the TTP protein.

(Natural protein points to new inflammation treatment, NIH)

They genetically altered mice to lack vitamin D receptors in 2 types of inflammation-related immune cells: monocytes and macrophages.

(How Vitamin D May Affect Heart Disease, Diabetes, NIH)

Scenes in the movies showing guns were edited out for the no-gun version but the action and narrative of the film were not altered.

(Better Not to Show Kids Movies with Guns, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

AL721 has been studied for diseases and conditions where altered membrane fluidity plays a role.

(AL721, NCI Thesaurus)