̘. ̈n.ɔ:lˈtə:nɪt v.,
adj., & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by with) (of
two things)
succeed each other by turns (rain
and sunshine alternated; elation alternated
with depression). 2 intr. (foll. by between)
change repeatedly (between two conditions) (the
patient alternated
between hot and
cold fevers). 3 tr. (often foll. by with)
cause (two things) to succeed each other by turns (the
band alternated fast and
slow tunes; we alternated
criticism with reassurance). --adj. 1 (with
noun in pl.)
every other (comes on alternate days). 2 (of things of two kinds) each
following and succeeded by
one of
the other kind (alternate
joy and misery). 3 (of a
sequence etc.) consisting of alternate things. 4
Bot. (of
leaves etc.) placed alternately on the two sides of the stem. 5 =
ALTERNATIVE. --n.
esp. US a
deputy or
substitute. øalternate angles two angles,
not adjoining one
another,
that are formed on
opposite sides of a line that intersects two other lines. alternating
current an
electric current that reverses
its direction at
regular intervals. øøalternately adv. [L alternatus
past part. of alternare do things by turns f. alternus every other f.
alter other]
