alternating

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

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

noun

transitive verb alternated, alternating

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