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alternate Definition

al·ter·nate (ôl′tər nit, al′-; for v. ôl′tər nāt′, al′-)

adjective

  1. occurring by turns; succeeding each other; one and then the other alternate stripes of blue and white
  2. every other; every second to report on alternate Tuesdays
  3. being one of two or more choices; alternative
  4. Bot.
    1. growing along the stem singly at different intervals, first on one side then the other, etc.
    2. placed at intervals between other parts, as in a flower

Etymology: L alternatus, pp. of alternare, to do by turns < alternus, one after the other < alter, other: see alter

noun

a person standing by to take the place of another if necessary; substitute

transitive verb -·nat′ed, -·nat′·ing

  1. to do or use by turns
  2. to make happen or arrange by turns

intransitive verb

  1. to act, happen, etc. by turns; follow successively good times alternate with bad
  2. to take turns
  3. to exchange places, etc. regularly
  4. Elec. to reverse direction periodically: said of a current

alternate Related Forms
al′·ter·nately adverb
alternate Synonyms

alternate

modif.

  1. Alternative

    alternative, substitute, makeshift, other; see temporary.

  2. Recurrent

    intermittent, alternating, every other, every second; see intermittent. See syn. study atintermittent.

alternate Synonyms

alternate

n.

replacement, equivalent, double; see substitute.

alternate Synonyms

alternate

v.

  1. To take or do by turns

    rotate, substitute, follow in turn, follow successively, happen by turns, follow one another, do by turns, act reciprocally, do one then the other, act alternately, relieve, fill in for, exchange, take turns, reciprocate, interchange, transpose, change off, spell*.

  2. To fluctuate

    vary, fluctuate, vacillate, oscillate, waver, seesaw, rise and fall, blow hot and cold, teeter, shift, sway, totter, come and go, ebb and flow, shuffle, go to and fro, ride and tie*, back and fill*, teeter-totter*.

alternate Usage Examples

Object

  • constipation: Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes a wide range of symptoms including alternating constipation and diarrhea and abdominal cramping.
  • mattress: Sixty-four per cent of those with sores were being nursed on an alternating pressure mattress of some sort.
  • voltage: Two numbers are needed in general to specify an alternating voltage or quantity unambiguously, assuming the frequency is already known.
  • layer: It occurs in alternating layers and goes through a tanning process during molting which adds to its strength.
  • sequence: When the button was pressed the alternating sequence started.
  • pattern: We thank David Bilton for pointing out to us the alternating segmentation pattern of tropical centipedes.

Preposition: with

  • constipation: Inorganic iron supplements can cause diarrhea alternating with constipation and stomach cramps.
  • layer: Cut the remaining bread into triangles and fill the ramekins with these, alternating with layers of chocolate and orange rind.
  • period: The second half of the month was then marked by cold snaps alternating with milder periods.
  • panel: Over much of the surface, the original panel segments alternate with the new unpainted metal panels.

Modifies a noun

  • Wednesday: The group meets on alternate Wednesdays at Combine House.
  • ending: Alternate ending: Complete the game with all nine Life Upgrades.
  • Saturday: The gallery, in Sessions House, is open Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm and alternate Saturdays, 9am - 12noon.
  • Friday: They meet on alternate Fridays during school term at 6.30pm to 8.00pm at St Dominic's Parish Social Center.
  • Monday: Seminars are currently on alternate Mondays, with two-day blocks organized for focused study; there is one Saturday study day each term.
  • Sunday: Also this year, as in the past two summers, the museum will be open on alternate Sundays.

Modifying Another Word

  • annually: The Handbook of Latin American Studies is a bibliography which alternates annually between social sciences and humanities.
  • rapidly: A series of surreal titles are rapidly alternated with the cut-out animation movements.
  • sometimes: Sometimes alternating ice packs with warm wheat bags or a hot water bottle can ease the ache in the knees.

Adjective complement

  • current: To do this I will use a power pack with an alternating current with an e.. .