English
Etymology
From L. term|alternare||take turns, term|alternus||one after another, by turns, from term|alter||other. See term|altern, term|alter.
Pronunciation
sense|noun|adjective a|US IPA|/��l.t�.n�t/
:audio|en-us-alternate-noun-adj.ogg|Audio (US)
sense|verb a|US IPA|/�l.t��net/
:audio|en-us-alternate-verb.ogg|Audio (US)
Adjective
en-adj|-
- 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.
#: And bid alternate passions fall and rise. -Pope
- math Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
#: the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
- US other|Other; or as common misuse when meaning alternative.
- botany Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. --Gray.
Translations
trans-top|being or succeeding by turns
Finnish: vuorotella|vuorotteleva
trans-mid
Swedish: växlande, omväxlande
trans-bottom
trans-top|mathematics: designating the members in a series
trans-mid
Swedish: varannan (=every second; every other)
trans-bottom
trans-top|other; alternative
trans-mid
Swedish: t+|sv|alternativ
trans-bottom
trans-top|botany: distributed, as leaves
Finnish: vuorottainen
trans-mid
trans-bottom
Noun
en-noun
- That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
#: Grateful alternates of substantial. -Prior
- US (Misuse) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
- math A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
- US A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
- heraldry figure|Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.
Translations
trans-top|that which alternates
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|substitute
trans-mid
Swedish: vikarie c (replacing as a workman), ersättare c (replacing as a member of a committee, board, etc.)
trans-bottom
trans-top|proportion derived from another
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|replacement
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|figures or tinctures
trans-mid
trans-bottom
Verb
en-verb|alternat|ing
- transitive To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
- intransitive 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.
- intransitive To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Translations
trans-top|to perform by turns
Croatian: t-|hr|alternirati
German: alternieren
Japanese: 交��� (k�tai suru)
trans-mid
Swedish: växla, alternera
trans-bottom
trans-top|to happen, succeed, or act by turns
Croatian: t-|hr|alternirati
German: alternieren
Japanese: 交��� (k�tai suru)
trans-mid
Swedish: växla, följa på varandra
trans-bottom
trans-top|to vary by turns
Croatian: t-|hr|alternirati
French: t+|fr|alterner
German: alternieren
trans-mid
Swedish: växla
trans-bottom
Related terms
alternate allegation
alternate angles
alternate generation
See also
alternative
variant
References
R:Heraldry 1862
webster
Category:English heteronyms
Italian
Verb
infl|it|verb form
- form of|second-person|Second-person plural present tense|alternare#Italian|alternare|lang=Italian
- form of|Second-person plural imperative|alternare#Italian|alternare|lang=Italian
- form of|feminine|Feminine plural|alternato
Adjective
infl|it|adjective form|gender=f
- Feminine plural form of alternato
Category:Italian past participle forms
ar:alternate
el:alternate
fa:alternate
fr:alternate
io:alternate
ja:alternate
pl:alternate
pt:alternate
ru:alternate
fi:alternate
te:alternate
vi:alternate
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