altérer

Altérer is a French verb that denotes the act of changing something from its original state. It can refer to physical or chemical modification, such as altering a material’s color, texture, or composition, or to spoilage or contamination, as in food or wine that has become unsafe or unpalatable. More broadly, it can mean to distort or degrade non-material things, including opinions, memories, or signals.

The verb derives from Latin alterare, meaning to change, from alter “the other.” The related noun l’altération refers to the act or result of altering, and is widely used to speak of deterioration, spoilage, or impairment, for example l’altération du goût, l’altération des données, or l’altération du climat.

Altérer is a transitive verb and commonly used with a direct object: altérer quelque chose. It is conjugated as a regular -er verb. Present tense forms: j’altère, tu altères, il altère, nous altérons, vous altérez, ils altèrent. Passé composé: j’ai altéré. Participle présent: altérant; participe passé: altéré. Examples: « La lumière peut altérer les couleurs des tissus. » « Le temps peut altérer la mémoire. » In scientific or technical contexts, altération may describe processes of deterioration, degradation, or deterioration of data, signals, or materials.