adj.
Pronunciation: US & Canad ' o ̇ l-t ə r-n ə t also ' al-; chiefly Brit o ̇ l- ' t ə r-
Function: 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