Definition of "alternate" in Anglais

adjective

1. Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

2. (mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.

   • the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.

3. (US) Other; alternative.

   • Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
   • He lives in an alternate universe and an alternate reality.

4. (botany, of leaves) Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence

   • Many trees have alternate leaf arrangement (e.g. birch, oak and mulberry).

noun

1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

2. (US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.

3. (mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.

4. (US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.

verb

1. (transitive) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.

2. (intransitive) To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with.

   • The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.

3. (intransitive) To vary by turns.

   • The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.

4. (transitive, geometry) To perform an alternation (removal of alternate vertices) on (a polytope or tessellation); to remove vertices (from a face or edge) as part of an alternation.