What does altar mean?
Word: Altar
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Altar means a raised table or stand in a temple, church or other place of worship, where offerings are placed or prayers are said.
Sounds like: alter (to make something different)
How do you spell altar?
Syllables: al - tar
Tricky part: Its last two letters are -ar, not -er. Altar and alter sound exactly the same, so the ending is the only clue to which one you mean.
Watch out for: altor, aultar
Memory tip: Picture a star shining over the altar: both end in -ar.
Altar in a sentence
Example 1: Nani lit a diya on the small altar in the prayer room.
Example 2: Fresh marigolds were placed on the altar before the ceremony began.
Example 3: The priest stood behind the altar and read from an old book.
Fun Fact
In many older churches the altar stands at the east end of the building, towards the rising sun, a custom that goes back many centuries.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) alltar
b) pillar
c) collar
d) sugar
Show answer
a) alltar. Collar and pillar really do double the l, but the place of worship has only one.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with the given word?
altar
a) water
b) falter
c) matter
d) after
Show answer
b) falter. Falter has the same awl sound and the same soft ending as altar.
Word Champ
Which of the words cannot be made using the letters in the given word?
altar
a) tar
b) rat
c) all
d) art
Show answer
c) all. All needs two l's, and altar has only one.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
tlara
a) a small bell rung at a festival
b) a long road leading into a city
c) a raised table in a place of worship
d) a tall tower beside a temple
Show answer
c) a raised table in a place of worship. T, l, a, r, a sort into the word for the stand where prayers are said.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. During Diwali, Meena's family places diyas and sweets on the altar. What are they most likely doing?
a) getting ready for a picnic
b) setting up a sweet stall
c) tidying the storeroom
d) saying their prayers
Show answer
d) saying their prayers
2. Which sentence needs the word altar, not alter?
a) The priest placed fresh flowers on the ___.
b) Rain may ___ the time of the match.
c) Mumma will ___ the length of my kurta.
d) Please do not ___ the plan at the last minute.
Show answer
a) The priest placed fresh flowers on the ___.
