alt

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   alternative or outside the cultural mainstream

   The station built a loyal audience with its alt music program.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to the Alt key on a computer keyboard

   Hold the alt key while selecting the menu item.

3. 3
   noun

   a high musical pitch or register, especially one above the treble staff

   The soprano reached A in alt with ease.

The modern adjective is a clipping of alternative or alternate. The older musical noun comes from Latin altus, ‘high,’ and is related to alto.

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