Altering course is a term used to describe the act of changing the direction of a vessel or vehicle. The crossword solutions for this term include TACK, VEER, TURN, DIVERT, SWERVE, and DEVIATE. TACK is a sailing maneuver in which the vessel turns its bow through the wind, VEER is a gradual change in direction, TURN is a sharp change in direction, DIVERT is to TURN aside from a course, SWERVE is to DEVIATE suddenly from a straight course, and DEVIATE is to TURN away from a set course.