GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Alternate , a. [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See Altern, Alter.]
   Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
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   And bid alternate passions fall and rise.
   Pope.
   
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   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; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line.
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   (Bot.) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
   Gray.
   
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   Alternate alligation. See Alligation. -- Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. -- Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation.
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2.       
   Alternate , n.
    That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [R.]
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   Grateful alternates of substantial.
   Prior.
   
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   A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
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   (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
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3.       
   Alternate , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alternating.] [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See Altern.] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
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   The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
   Grew.
   
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4.       
   Alternate, v. i.
   To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
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   Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast.
   J. Philips.
   
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   Different species alternating with each other.
   Kirwan.
   
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   To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
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