alternate

Word family

al·ter·nate1 /ɔːlˈtɜːnət $ ˈɒːltər-, ˈæl-/ AWL adjectiveadj [usually before noun]

1 REGULARif something happens on alternate days, weeks etc, it happens on one day etc and not the next, and continues in this pattern 间隔的 → every other

alternate Mondays/weekends etc

The service runs on alternate days.

这个服务机构隔天开放一次。

In everyday English, instead of alternate days/Fridays/weeks etc, people usually use the phrase every other day/Friday/week etc: 在日常英语中，人们一般用every other day/Friday/week等短语，而不用alternate days/Fridays/weeks等

We meet on alternate Saturdays. → We meet every other Saturday. 我们每隔一个星期的周六见面。

2 SERIEStwo alternate things are placed one after the other in a regular pattern 轮流的，相间的，交替的

alternate blue and red stripes

蓝红相间的条纹

Arrange the leeks and noodles in alternate layers.

一层韭葱、一层面条地交替放置。

3 DIFFERENTused to replace another thing of the same type 可替代的 SYN alternative

the appointment of an alternate director

一位候补董事的任命

Examples from the Corpus

alternate• Rules incorporate more traditional expertise in handling situations like bumping and alternate carrier vouchers.• Italian cities have imposed alternate-day driving rules in an effort to reduce pollution.• He works alternate days.• This pattern of alternate feeding and resting is characteristic of all grazing animals.• Stretch up alternate hands - even higher than yesterday!• an alternate juror• an alternate method of payment• Lethal injection is a means of execution in 32 states, some of which use alternate methods as well.• Also, an alternate needle pattern produces beautiful mash lace very easily.• He worked alternate night and day shifts.• It solaced him to know that he had an alternate plan if things went awry.• Also, unions are free to waive daily overtime requirements and negotiate alternate schedules, such as those providing four 10-hour days.• In two cases where father and son were both working shifts they had arranged alternate shifts thus allowing uninterrupted farm work.• The walls were painted with alternate stripes of yellow and green.• She visits her parents on alternate Sundays.

alternate layers• Method: Place leeks and noodles in alternate layers in casserole dish.• Pack claw and body meat in alternate layers in small fire-proof pots.

al·ter·nate2 /ˈɔːltəneɪt $ ˈɒːltər-, ˈæl-/ AWL verb [intransitiveI, transitiveT]

SHAREif two things alternate, or if you alternate them, they happen one after the other in a repeated pattern （使）轮流，（使）交替

alternate between

She alternated between outrage and sympathy.

她时而义愤填膺，时而同情感伤。

alternate with

Periods of depression alternate with excited behavior.

沮丧与兴奋交替出现。

alternate something and/with something

Twist your body, alternating right and left stretches.

扭动身体，向左向右交替伸展。

—alternation /ˌɔːltəˈneɪʃən $ ˌɒːltər-, ˌæl-/ noun [countableC, uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

alternate• Leroy alternated aerobic exercises with weight training to improve his stamina.• Over the past weeks, Milosevic has alternated between repression and reconciliation, and this week was no exception.• The guide explained the situation, alternating between Spanish and German.• We could simply alternate between the two algorithms and catch the suspect either way.• His mother would alternate inexplicably between kindness and cruelty.• All day Saturday, tensions ran high as the president alternated intense cabinet meetings with bouts of seclusion.• The class has two teachers who alternate on a weekly basis.• You'll have to alternate. One of you can use the room in the mornings, and the other in the evenings.• Herwig and saxist Henderson played as a harmonizing duo, then split to alternate solos.• I alternate the direction of these strokes, imitating the direction I use to apply the pastel in the first place.• When putting the ring together I alternate the segments marked face up then plain face up to create a balanced pattern.• He has periods of depression, which alternate with frenzied activity.

alternate between• Her emotions alternated between outrage and sympathy.

Origin alternate1