Main Entry:

¹al·ter·nate

Pronunciation:

\US & Canada ˈȯl-tər-nət also ˈal-; chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-\

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 other3: 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