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v. al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing, al·ter·nates v.intr. 1. a. To occur in a successive manner: day alternating with night. b. To act or proceed by turns: The students alternated at the computer. 2. To pass back and forth from one state, action, or place to another: alternated between happiness and depression. 3. Electricity To reverse direction at regular intervals in a circuit. v.tr. 1. To do or execute by turns. 2. To cause to alternate: alternated light and dark squares to form a pattern. adj. (-nĭt) 1. Happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously: alternate seasons of the year. 2. Designating or relating to every other one of a series: alternate lines. 3. Serving or used in place of another; substitute: an alternate plan. See Usage Note at alternative. 4. Botany a. Arranged singly at each node, as leaves or buds on different sides of a stem. b. Arranged regularly between other parts, as stamens between petals. n. (-nĭt) 1. A person acting in the place of another; a substitute. 2. An alternative. [Latin alternāre, alternāt-, from alternus, by turns, from alter, other; see al-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] alter·nate·ly adv. |
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