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Definition of altar noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

altar

noun
 
/ˈɔːltə(r)/
 
/ˈɔːltər/
 Idioms
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  1. a holy table in a church or temple
    • the high altar (= the most important one in a particular church)
    Extra Examples
    • He placed the candles on the altar.
    • Helen and Tony kneeled at the altar.
    • The bride approached the altar.
    • an altar dedicated to Saint John
    Topics Religion and festivalsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • high
    • main
    • makeshift
    • …
    verb + altar
    • approach
    • go up to
    • face
    • …
    altar + noun
    • boy
    • cloth
    • frontal
    • …
    preposition
    • at an/​the altar
    • before an/​the altar
    • on an/​the altar
    • …
    See full entry
    Word OriginOld English altar, alter, based on late Latin altar, altarium, from Latin altus ‘high’.
Idioms
at/on the altar of something
  1. (formal) because of something that you think is worth suffering for
    • He was willing to sacrifice his happiness on the altar of fame.
See altar in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: altar

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dizzy
adjective
 
 
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