al|ter|nate

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.

2. to take turns: »

Lucy and her sister will alternate in setting the table.

SYNONYM(S): rotate.

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.

3. to or for each other; reciprocal: »

altrnate acts of kindness.

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.

╂[< Latin alternāre (with English -ate¹) < alternus every second one < alter the other]

–al´ter|nate|ness, noun.

–al´ter|nat´ing|ly, adverb.