(of two things 两事物 happening or following one after the other regularly 交替的；轮流的 alternate layers of fruit and cream 水果层和奶油层相间 Stretch up 30 times with alternate arms as a warm-up exercise. 交替手臂伸展30次作为热身运动。
if something happens on alternate days, nights, etc. it happens on one day, etc. but not on the next 间隔的；每隔（…天等）的 John has to work on alternate Sundays. 约翰每隔一周就有一个星期日得上班。 🔊🔊 The ferry service will initially run on alternate days, increasing eventually to daily sailings. 渡轮服务最初将在隔日运行，最终增加到每日航行。
- (especially North American English) (also alternative British and North American English)
that can be used instead of something else 代替者；代理人；候补者
Word Originearly 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- ‘done by turns’, from alternare, from alternus ‘every other’, from alter ‘other’.