adj.
Pronunciation: ' o ̇ l-t ə r- ˌ n ā t also ' al-
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -nat · ed ; -nat · ing
Date: 1599
transitive verb
1 : to perform by turns or in succession
2 : to cause to alternate
intransitive verb : to change from one to another repeatedly <rain alternated with sun>