English adjective: alternate | |||
1. | alternate every second one of a series | ||
Samples | The cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays. Jam every other day. | ||
Similar | cyclic, cyclical | ||
Antonyms | noncyclic, noncyclical | ||
2. | alternate serving or used in place of another | ||
Samples | An alternative plan. | ||
Synonyms | alternative, substitute | ||
Similar | secondary | ||
Antonyms | primary | ||
3. | alternate occurring by turns; first one and then the other | ||
Samples | Alternating feelings of love and hate. | ||
Synonyms | alternating | ||
Similar | cyclic, cyclical | ||
Antonyms | noncyclic, noncyclical | ||
4. | alternate of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired | ||
Samples | Stems with alternate leaves. | ||
Domain category | botany, phytology | ||
Antonyms | opposite, paired | ||
English noun: alternate | |||
1. | alternate (person) someone who takes the place of another person | ||
Synonyms | replacement, surrogate | ||
Broader (hypernym) | backup, backup man, fill-in, relief, reliever, stand-in, substitute | ||
English verb: alternate | |||
1. | alternate (change) go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions | ||
Synonyms | jump | ||
Pattern of use | Something is ----ing PP. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, vary | ||
2. | alternate (social) exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | exchange | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | rotate | ||
3. | alternate (cognition) be an understudy or alternate for a role | ||
Synonyms | understudy | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | con, learn, memorise, memorize | ||
4. | alternate (change) reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action) | ||
Synonyms | flip, flip-flop, interchange, switch, tack | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s. Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | change by reversal, reverse, turn | ||
5. | alternate (change) do something in turns | ||
Samples | We take turns on the night shift. | ||
Synonyms | take turns | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | act, move | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | spell | ||