(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. 交替双臂向上伸展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. 轮渡服务最初将隔天运行，最终增加到每天一班。
- (especially North American English) (also alternative British and North American English)
that can be used instead of something else 可以用来代替其他东西
Word Originearly 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- ‘done by turns’, from alternare, from alternus ‘every other’, from alter ‘other’.