Alternate

English

Part or all of this page has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Etymology

From Latin alternare (“‘take turns’”), alternus (“‘one after another, by turns’”), from alter (“‘other’”). See altern, alter.

Pronunciation

Adjective, noun

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɒlˌtɜː(ɹ).nət/, SAMPA: /"Ql%t3:(r\).n@t/
• (US) IPA: /ˈɔl.tɚ.nət/, SAMPA: /"Ol.t@`.n@t/

  Audio (US)	noicon
  (file)

Verb

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɒl.tə(ɹ)ˌneɪt/, SAMPA: /"Ql.t@(r\)%neIt/
• (US) IPA: /ɔl.tɚˈnet/, SAMPA: /Ql.t@"nEt/

  Audio (US)	noicon
  (file)

Adjective

Alternate (not comparable)

Positive Alternate

Comparative not comparable

Superlative none (absolute)

1. 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. -Alexander Pope

2. (mathematics) 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.

3. (US) Other or alternative.
4. (botany) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. --Gray.

Translations

being or succeeding by turns

Bulgarian: редуващ се bg(bg) Czech: střídavý cs(cs) Estonian: vahelduv et(et)

Finnish: vuorotteleva fi(fi) Swedish: växlande, omväxlande

mathematics: designating the members in a series

Czech: střídavý cs(cs)

Swedish: varannan (=every second; every other)

other; alternative

Czech: alternativní cs(cs), náhradní cs(cs)

Swedish: alternativ sv(sv)

botany: distributed, as leaves

Finnish: vuoroittainen fi(fi)

Noun

Singular Alternate

Plural {{{1}}}

Alternate ({{{1}}})

1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

   Grateful alternates of substantial. -Matthew Prior

2. A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
3. (mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
4. (US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
5. Template:Heraldry Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.

Translations

that which alternates

Czech: obměna cs(cs) f.

substitute

Czech: náhrada cs(cs) f. Dutch: plaatsvervanger nl(nl) m.

Swedish: vikarie c. (replacing as a workman), ersättare c. (replacing as a member of a committee, board, etc.)

proportion derived from another

figures or tinctures

Verb

Infinitive to Alternate

Third person singular alternat

Simple past -

Past participle -

Present participle ing

to Alternate (third-person singular simple present alternat, present participle ing, simple past and past participle -)

1. (transitive) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
2. (intransitive) To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time;—followed by with.

   The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.

3. (intransitive) To vary by turns.

   The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.

Translations

to perform by turns

Bulgarian: редувам се bg(bg) Croatian: alternirati hr(hr) Czech: střídat se cs(cs)

German: alternieren Japanese: 交替する (kōtai suru) Swedish: växla, alternera

to happen, succeed, or act by turns

Bulgarian: редувам се bg(bg) Croatian: alternirati hr(hr) Czech: střídat se cs(cs)

German: alternieren Japanese: 交替する (kōtai suru) Swedish: växla, följa på varandra

to vary by turns

Croatian: alternirati hr(hr) Czech: střídat cs(cs) French: alterner fr(fr)

German: alternieren Swedish: växla

Derived terms

• alternate allegation
• alternate angles
• alternate generation
• alternately
• alternation

See also

• alternative
• variant

External links

• Alternate at OneLook® Dictionary Search
• Template:R:Heraldry 1862
• Alternate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• Alternate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• alternate in The Online Etymology Dictionary

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Italian

Verb

Alternate

1. Second-person plural present tense of alternare.
2. Second-person plural imperative of alternare#Italian.
3. Feminine plural of alternato.

Adjective

Alternate f.

1. Feminine plural form of alternato

Anagrams

• aaeelnrtt,
• alterante

ar:alternate et:alternate el:alternate fa:alternate fr:alternate io:alternate hu:alternate ml:alternate ja:alternate pl:alternate pt:alternate ru:alternate fi:alternate sv:alternate ta:alternate te:alternate tr:alternate vi:alternate zh:alternate