spat vs altercate

spat is a noun but altercate is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
spat	Yes	No	Yes	No
altercate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, altercate is a hypernym of spat; that is, altercate is a word with a broader meaning than spat:

Other hypernyms of spat include argufy, dispute, quarrel, scrap.

spat (noun)	altercate (noun)
a young oyster or other bivalve
a cloth covering (a legging) that covers the instep and ankles
a quarrel about petty points

spat (verb)	altercate (verb)
clap one's hands together	have a disagreement over something
spawn
engage in a brief and petty quarrel
clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
strike with a sound like that of falling rain
become permanently attached
come down like raindrops