alternate

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[edit] English

Part or all of this entry 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 The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

Adjective, noun
  • (UK) IPA: /ˈɒlˌtɜː(ɹ).nət/, SAMPA: /"Ql%t3:(r\).n@t/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈɔl.tɚ.nət/, /ˈɑl.tɚ.nət/, SAMPA: /"Ol.t@`.n@t/, /"Al.t@`.n@t/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
Verb
  • (UK) IPA: /ˈɒl.tə(ɹ)ˌneɪt/, SAMPA: /"Ql.t@(r\)%neIt/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈɔl.tɚ.neɪt/, /ˈɑl.tɚ.neɪt/, SAMPA: /"Ql.t@nEt, /"Al.t@nEt/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)

[edit] Adjective

alternate (not comparable)

  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.

[edit] Translations

being or succeeding by turns
mathematics: designating the members in a series
other; alternative
botany: distributed, as leaves

[edit] Noun

alternate (plural alternates)

  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. (heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.

[edit] Translations

that which alternates
substitute
  • Swedish: vikarie (sv) c. (replacing as a workman), ersättare (sv) c. (replacing as a member of a committee, board, etc.)
proportion derived from another
figures or tinctures

[edit] Verb

alternate (third-person singular simple present alternates, present participle alternating, simple past and past participle alternated)

  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.

[edit] Translations

to perform by turns
to happen, succeed, or act by turns
to vary by turns

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Italian

[edit] Verb

alternate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of alternare
  2. second-person plural imperative of alternare
  3. Feminine plural of alternato

[edit] Adjective

alternate f.

  1. Feminine plural form of alternato

[edit] Anagrams

[edit] Latin

[edit] Verb

alternāte

  1. first-person plural present active imperative of alternō
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