Final answer:
The statement is true; altering columns or their widths changes a table's definition, affecting data structure, layout, and presentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you add, remove or rearrange columns, or change column widths, you are changing the table's definition. The statement is true. Changing any of these elements alters the structure and organization of the data within the table. In database systems, the definition of a table includes its columns, the data types for each column, and additional constraints. Similarly, in spreadsheet programs, altering the columns affects the layout and can impact calculations, formatting, and data presentation. Beth's observation that the columns on the edges are slightly closer than those in the center may apply to aesthetic designs or visual representations and does not typically pertain to table definitions in databases or spreadsheets.