I. US & Canad ˈȯl-tər-nət also ˈal-; chiefly Brit ȯl-ˈtər- adjective
Etymology: Latin alternatus, past participle of alternare, from alternus alternate, from alter
Date: 1513
1. : occurring or succeeding by turns
a day of alternate sunshine and rain
2.
a. : arranged first on one side and then on the other at different levels or points along an axial line
alternate leaves
— compare opposite
b. : arranged one above or alongside the other
3. : every other : every second
he works on alternate days
4. : constituting an alternative
took the alternate route home
5. : alternative 3
• al·ter·nate·ly adverb
II. ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt also ˈal- verb
( -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
III. same as 1 noun
Date: 1717
1. : alternative
2. : one that substitutes for or alternates with another