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al·ter·nate
[v. awl-ter-neyt, al-; adj., n. awl-ter-nit, al-] verb, -nat·ed, -nat·ing, adjective, noun verb (used without object)
1.
to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed 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.
Electricity. to reverse direction or sign periodically.
5.
Linguistics. to occur as a variant in alternation with another form.
verb (used with object)
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.
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Alternately
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
adjective
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.
EXPANDalternative (defs. 4, 6).
13.
COLLAPSEBotany.
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.
noun
14.
a person authorized to fill the position, exercise the duties, etc., of another who is temporarily absent; substitute.
15.
Theater.
a.
either of two actors who take turns playing the same role.
b.
an understudy.
16.
Related forms
al·ter·nate·ly, adverb
al·ter·nate·ness, noun
al·ter·nat·ing·ly, adverb
non·al·ter·nat·ing, adjective
qua·si-al·ter·nat·ing, adjective
EXPAND
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To alternately
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
alternate
1510s, from L. alternatus "one after the other," pp. of alternare "to do first one thing, then the other," from alternus "every other," from alter "the other" (see alter). The verb is recorded from c.1600; the noun meaning "a substitute" is first attested 1848. Alternate means
EXPAND"by turns;" alternative means "offering a choice." Both imply two kinds or things.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
alternate (ôl'tər-nĭt) Pronunciation Key
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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