alternate

alternate
—alternately, adv. —alternateness, n. —alternatingly, adv.
v. /awl"teuhr nayt', al"-/; adj., n. /awl"teuhr nit, al"-/, v., alternated, alternating, adj., n.
v.i.
1. to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually fol. by with): Day alternates with night.
2. to change back and forth between conditions, states, actions, etc.: He alternates between hope and despair.
3. to take turns: My sister and I alternated in doing the dishes.
4. Elect. to reverse direction or sign periodically.
5. Ling. to occur as a variant in alternation with another form.
v.t.
6. to perform or do in succession or one after another: to alternate comedy acts; to alternate jogging and walking.
7. to interchange successively or regularly: to alternate hot and cold compresses.
adj.
8. being in a constant state of succession or rotation; interchanged repeatedly one for another: Winter and summer are alternate seasons.
9. reciprocal; mutual: alternate acts of kindness.
10. every second one of a series: Read only the alternate lines.
11. constituting an alternative: The alternate route is more scenic.
12. alternative (defs. 4, 6).
13. Bot.
a. placed singly at different heights on the axis, on each side in succession, or at definite angular distances from one another, as leaves.
b. opposite to the intervals between other organs: petals alternate with sepals.
n.
14. a person authorized to fill the position, exercise the duties, etc., of another who is temporarily absent; substitute.
15. Theat.
a. either of two actors who take turns playing the same role.
b. an understudy.
16. alternative.
[1505-15; < L alternatus (ptp. of alternare). See ALTERN, -ATE1]

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • alternate — alternate, alternative 1. Both words are adjectives and nouns and come from Latin alternus meaning ‘every second’ and have had closely related meanings over several centuries of usage. Now however, there is a clear distinction which needs to be… …   Modern English usage

  • Alternate — Al*ter nate (?; 277), a. [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See {Altern}, {Alter}.] 1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alternate — al·ter·nate 1 / ȯl tər nət, al / adj 1: occurring or succeeding by turns 2: being an alternative alternate juror alternate 2 n 1 …   Law dictionary

  • ALTERNATE — ist englisch für: Alternative siehe Alternative (Begriffsklärung) alternierend siehe Alternanz der regelmäßige Wechsel zwischen zwei Zuständen Das Unternehmen Alternate Computerversand GmbH. In der Luftfahrt gebräuchliche Bezeichnung für… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • alternate — [adj1] every other alternating, every second, intermittent, periodic, recurrent, recurring, rotating; concept 553 alternate [adj2] substitute alternative, another, backup, different, interchanging, makeshift, second, surrogate, temporary; concept …   New thesaurus

  • alternate — [ôl′tər nit, al′tər nit; ] for v. [ ôl′tər nāt΄, al′tər nāt΄] adj. [L alternatus, pp. of alternare, to do by turns < alternus, one after the other < alter, other: see ALTER] 1. occurring by turns; succeeding each other; one and then the… …   English World dictionary

  • Alternate — Al ter*nate, v. i. 1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. [1913 Webster] Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. J. Philips …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alternate — steht für: ein Unternehmen, siehe Alternate (Unternehmen) in der Luftfahrt gebräuchliche Bezeichnung für Alternate Airport, siehe Ausweichflugplatz Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • alternate — adj *intermittent, recurrent, periodic Analogous words: alternating, rotating (see ROTATE): *reciprocal, corresponding, complementary Antonyms: consecutive Contrasted words: successive, sequent (see CONSECUTIVE) alternate vb * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • alternate — ► VERB 1) occur or do in turn repeatedly. 2) change repeatedly between two contrasting conditions. ► ADJECTIVE 1) every other. 2) (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern. 3) chiefly N. Amer. another term for …   English terms dictionary

  • alternate — UK US /ˈɒltənət/ noun [C] US ► WORKPLACE a person who does another person s job when they are ill or away: »He was dismissed and replaced with an alternate …   Financial and business terms

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