Main Entry: al·ter·na·tion of generations

Pronunciation: \ˌȯl-tər-ˈnā-shən also ˌal-\

Function: noun

: the occurrence of two or more forms differently produced in the life cycle of a plant or animal usually involving the regular alternation of a sexual with an asexual generation but not infrequently consisting of alternation of a dioecious generation with one or more parthenogenetic generations