adjective , verb , noun
■ adjective / ɔːlˈtɜːnət; NAmE ˈɔːltərnət/ [ usually before noun ]
1.
( of two things ) happening or following one after the other regularly :
alternate layers of fruit and cream
2.
if sth happens on alternate days, nights, etc. it happens on one day, etc. but not on the next :
John has to work on alternate Sundays.
3.
( especially NAmE ) = alternative
► al·ter·nate·ly adverb :
He felt alternately hot and cold.
■ verb / ˈɔːltəneɪt; NAmE -tərn-/
1.
[ vn ] ~ A and B | ~ A with B to make things or people follow one after the other in a repeated pattern :
Alternate cubes of meat and slices of red pepper.
Alternate cubes of meat with slices of red pepper.
2.
[ v ] ~ (with sth) ( of things or people ) to follow one after the other in a repeated pattern :
alternating dark and pale stripes
Dark stripes alternate with pale ones.
3.
[ v ] ~ between A and B to keep changing from one thing to another and back again :
Her mood alternated between happiness and despair.
► al·ter·na·tion / ˌɔːltəˈneɪʃn; NAmE -tərˈn-/ noun [ U , C ]:
the alternation of day and night
■ noun
/ ˈɔːltɜːrnət; NAmE -tərn-/ ( NAmE ) a person who does a job for sb who is away
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- done by turns, from alternare , from alternus every other, from alter other.