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

transitive verb alternated -·nat′ed, alternating -·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