- al´ter|nate|ness
- al|ter|nate «verb. L tuhr nayt, AL-; adjective, noun. L tuhr niht, AL-», verb, -nat|ed, -nat|ing, adjective, noun.–v.i.1. to occur by turns, first one and then the other; happen or be arranged by turns. Squares and circles alternate in this row: □ ○ □ ○ □ ○ □ ○ »
Night and day alternate. The countryside of England alternates between hills and valleys. Good times seem to alternate with bad.
3. a) (of an electric current) to reverse direction at regular intervals: »Some electric currents alternate 120 times a second.
b) to produce or be operated by such a current.–v.t.1. to arrange by turns; do or perform by turns: »He alternated work and pleasure.
2. to interchange regularly: »The ailing man alternated two hours of work with one hour of rest.
–adj.1. placed or occurring by turns; first one and then the other: »The row has alternate squares and circles.
SYNONYM(S): intermittent.2. every other: »We get milk on alternate days because it is not delivered every day.
4. Botany. a) placed singly at different heights along a stem; not opposite: »alternate leaves.
b) placed opposite to the spaces between other organs: »petals which are alternate with sepals.
–n.1. U.S. a person appointed to take the place of another if necessary; a substitute: »We have several alternates on our team. If the delegate is present to vote the alternate is silent; if from any cause the delegate is absent, the alternate steps into his shoes (James Bryce).
2. a person or thing that alternates.–al´ter|nate|ness, noun.–al´ter|nat´ing|ly, adverb.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
