alternateverb'ɔ:ltəneɪt,'ɒl-occur or do in turn repeatedly.
change repeatedly between two contrasting conditions.
adjectiveɔ:l'tə:nət,ɒl-
1every other.
(of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern.
Botany(of leaves or shoots) placed alternately on the two sides of the stem.
2chiefly N. Amer.another term for alternative.
nounɔ:l'tə:nət,ɒl-N. Amer.a deputy or substitute.
Derivatives
alternatelyadverb
alternationnoun
Origin
C16 (earlier (ME) asalternation): from L.alternare(see alternative).
Usage
The use ofalternateto meanalternativeis common in North American English, though still generally regarded as incorrect in Britain.
Thesaurusalternateverb
1rows of trees alternate with dense shrub: BE INTERSPERSED, occur in turn/rotation, rotate, follow one another; take turns, take it in turns, work/act in sequence.
2we could alternate the groups so that no one felt they had been left out: GIVE TURNS TO, take in turn, rotate, take in rotation; swap, exchange, interchange.
adjective
1she attended on alternate days: EVERY OTHER, every second.
2place the leeks and noodles in alternate layers: ALTERNATING, interchanging, following in sequence, sequential, occurring in turns.
3(N. Amer.)an alternate plan.:Seealternativeadjectivesense 1.