I. ˈȯltə(r)nənt also ˈal-; chiefly Brit ȯlˈtə̄n- also alˈt- adjective
Etymology: Latin alternant-, alternans, present participle of alternare to alternate — more at alternate
: alternating
II. noun
( -s )
1. mathematics : a determinant the constituents of whose different rows are (in order) the same set of functions of different variables, the same variable appearing in each row and the same function in each column, the terms row and column here being interchangeable
2. : one of the statements in logic composing an alternation
3. : any of the nonsignificant variants (as an allomorph or allophone) that together constitute a significant linguistic category