alternative
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al·ter·na·tive
(ôl-tûr′nə-tĭv, ăl-)n.
1.
a. One of a number of possible choices or courses of action: There are plenty of alternatives to conventional advertising.
b. A choice or course of action that is mutually exclusive with another: The alternative to staying in that dead-end job is to quit. See Synonyms at choice.
2. A situation presenting a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities: people facing the alternative of selling their homes or going bankrupt.
adj.
1.
a. Being one of a number of possible choices or courses of action: The highway is closed. Seek alternative routes.
b. Being one of two mutually exclusive choices or courses of action: How effective is the alternative treatment?
c. Substitute or other: Several members of the audience provided alternative views on the topic.
2.
a. Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems: an alternative lifestyle; alternative energy.
b. Espousing or reflecting values that are different from those of the establishment or mainstream: an alternative newspaper.
al·ter′na·tive·ly adv.
Usage Note: A traditional view holds that alternative should be used only when the number of choices involved is exactly two. This reasoning is based on the word's historical relation to Latin alter, "the other of two." Even in the 1960s, some 58 percent of the Usage Panel did not favor this edict, and now that majority is overwhelming. In 2009, fully 87 percent of the Panel accepted the sentence There are plenty of alternatives to straightforward advertising, and 85 percent accepted There are many new antibiotic alternatives to penicillin. Constructions like a number of alternatives must now be considered standard. · As an adjective, alternative can mean "allowing or requiring a choice between two or more things," as in We wrote an alternative statement in case the first was rejected by the board. It may also refer to a variant or substitute in cases where no choice is involved, as in We will do our best to secure alternative employment for employees displaced by the closing of the factory. In our 2009 survey, 87 percent of the Usage Panel accepted this sentence. Interestingly, only 52 percent accepted alternate when used in the same sentence.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
alternative
(ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv)n
1. a possibility of choice, esp between two things, courses of action, etc
2. either of such choices: we took the alternative of walking.
adj
3. presenting a choice, esp between two possibilities only
4. (of two things) mutually exclusive
5. (Sociology) denoting a lifestyle, culture, art form, etc, regarded by its adherents as preferable to that of contemporary society because it is less conventional, materialistic, or institutionalized, and, often, more in harmony with nature
6. (Logic) logic another word for disjunctive3
alˈternatively adv
alˈternativeness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
al•ter•na•tive
(ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl-)n.
1. a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities: the alternative of riding or walking.
2. one of these choices: The alternative to riding is walking.
3. a possible or remaining choice: no alternative but to walk.
adj. 4. affording a choice between two or more things.
5. (of two choices) mutually exclusive so that if one is chosen the other must be rejected.
6. employing nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.: an alternative newspaper.
[1580–90]
al•ter′na•tive•ly, adv.
syn: See choice.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
alternative
See: variant.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
alternate
– alternative1. 'alternate'
Alternate actions, events, or processes keep happening regularly after each other.
...the alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles.
If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one day, then does not happen on the next day, then happens again on the day after it, and so on. Things can also happen in alternate weeks, months, or years.
We saw each other on alternate Sunday nights.
The two courses are available in alternate years.
2. 'alternative'
You use alternative to describe something that can be used, had, or done instead of something else.
But still people try to find alternative explanations.
There is, however, an alternative approach.
Note that in American English, alternate is sometimes used with this meaning.
How would a clever researcher rule out this alternate explanation?
Alternative can also be a noun. An alternative to something is something else that you can have or do instead.
Food suppliers are working hard to provide organic alternatives to everyday foodstuffs.
A magistrate offered them a Domestic Education course as an alternative to prison.
There is no alternative to permanent storage.
You can also say that someone has two or more alternatives, meaning that they have two or more courses of action to choose from.
If a man is threatened with attack, he has five alternatives: he can fight, flee, hide, summon help, or try to appease his attacker.
Note that it used to be considered incorrect to talk about more than two alternatives.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  alternative - one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen; "what option did I have?"; "there no other alternative"; "my only choice is to refuse"deciding, decision making - the cognitive process of reaching a decision; "a good executive must be good at decision making" obverse - the more conspicuous of two alternatives or cases or sides; "the obverse of this issue" druthers, preference - the right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, I'd eat cake" default option, default - an option that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified possible action, possibility, opening - a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility" impossible action, impossibility - an alternative that is not available Hobson's choice - the choice of taking what is offered or nothing at all soft option - an easier alternative; "the instructor took the soft option and gave the boy a passing grade" |
| Adj. | 1. | alternative - serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan" secondary - being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams" |
| 2. | alternative - necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities; "alternative possibilities were neutrality or war" disjunctive - serving or tending to divide or separate | |
| 3. |  alternative - pertaining to unconventional choices; "an alternative life style"unconventional - not conventional or conformist; "unconventional life styles" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
alternative
noun
1. substitute, choice, other (of two), option, preference, recourse New treatments may provide an alternative to painkillers.
adjective
1. different, other, substitute, alternate There were alternative methods of transport available.
2. unconventional, unusual, alternate (U.S.), abnormal, irregular, off-the-wall (slang), unorthodox, heterodox, uncustomary Grunge percolated in the alternative music scene of Seattle.
3. substitute, other, different, replacement, alternate, complementary, non-standard alternative healthcare
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
alternative
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بَدِيلخَيار بَيْن إثْنَين
alternativaalternativníjiná možnostjiný
alternativvalg
vaihtoehtovaihtoehtoinen
alternativaalternativan
alternatívválasztási lehetõség
sem um er aî velja, annarvalkostur
代わりの選択肢
양자 택일양자 택일인
alternatyvaalternatyvusarbakitas pasirinkimas
alternatīvaalternatīvsizvēleizvēles-
alternatívnyiná možnosť
alternativendruga možnostdrugačenizbira
alternativ
ทางเลือกที่มีตัวเลือก
khácphương án thay thế
alternative
[ɒlˈtɜːnətɪv]A. ADJ
1. [plan, route] → alternativo, otro
the only alternative system → el único sistema alternativo
do you have an alternative candidate? → ¿tienes otro candidato?
the only alternative system → el único sistema alternativo
do you have an alternative candidate? → ¿tienes otro candidato?
B. N → alternativa f
there are several alternatives → hay varias alternativas or posibilidades
what alternatives are there? → ¿qué alternativas or opciones hay?
I have no alternative → no tengo más remedio, no me queda otra alternativa or opción
there is no alternative → no hay otro remedio, no queda otra (LAm)
you have no alternative but to go → no tienes más alternativa or opción or remedio que ir
fruit is a healthy alternative to chocolate → la fruta es una opción más sana que el chocolate
there are several alternatives → hay varias alternativas or posibilidades
what alternatives are there? → ¿qué alternativas or opciones hay?
I have no alternative → no tengo más remedio, no me queda otra alternativa or opción
there is no alternative → no hay otro remedio, no queda otra (LAm)
you have no alternative but to go → no tienes más alternativa or opción or remedio que ir
fruit is a healthy alternative to chocolate → la fruta es una opción más sana que el chocolate
C. CPD alternative comedian N → humorista mf alternativo/a
alternative comedy N → humorismo m alternativo
alternative energy N → energías fpl alternativas
alternative medicine N → medicina f alternativa
alternative school N (US) colegio para niños que requieren una atención diferenciada
alternative comedy N → humorismo m alternativo
alternative energy N → energías fpl alternativas
alternative medicine N → medicina f alternativa
alternative school N (US) colegio para niños que requieren una atención diferenciada
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
alternative
[ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv] adj
(= other) [method, approach, way, plans, arrangements] → autre; [source] → autre; [route, date, flight] → de remplacement; [career, employment] → de remplacement
They made alternative plans → Ils ont pris d'autres dispositions.
Alternative methods of travel are available → Il existe d'autres façons de voyager.
an alternative solution → une solution de rechange
an alternative explanation → une autre explication
They made alternative plans → Ils ont pris d'autres dispositions.
Alternative methods of travel are available → Il existe d'autres façons de voyager.
an alternative solution → une solution de rechange
an alternative explanation → une autre explication
(= unconventional, not mainstream) [energy, technology] → alternatif/ive; [society] → alternatif/ive; [lifestyle] → différent(e), non conventionnel(le); [comedy, comedian] → nouveau(nouvelle)
alternative forms of transport → de nouvelles formes de transport alternative medicine
alternative forms of transport → de nouvelles formes de transport alternative medicine
n
(= choice) → alternative f (= other possibility) → autre possibilité f
There are several alternatives → Il y a plusieurs possibilités.
We have several alternatives → Nous avons plusieurs possibilités.
What's the alternative? → Quelle est l'alternative ?
to have no alternative → ne pas avoir le choix
You have no alternative → Tu n'a pas le choix.
There is no alternative → Il n'y a pas le choix.
there is no alternative but to ... → il n'y a pas d'autre solution que de ...
to have no alternative but to ... → ne pas avoir d'autre solution que de ...
an alternative to sth (= other choice) → une solution alternative à qch
Fruit is a healthy alternative to chocolate → Les fruits constituent une solution alternative saine au chocolat.
There are several alternatives → Il y a plusieurs possibilités.
We have several alternatives → Nous avons plusieurs possibilités.
What's the alternative? → Quelle est l'alternative ?
to have no alternative → ne pas avoir le choix
You have no alternative → Tu n'a pas le choix.
There is no alternative → Il n'y a pas le choix.
there is no alternative but to ... → il n'y a pas d'autre solution que de ...
to have no alternative but to ... → ne pas avoir d'autre solution que de ...
an alternative to sth (= other choice) → une solution alternative à qch
Fruit is a healthy alternative to chocolate → Les fruits constituent une solution alternative saine au chocolat.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
alternative
adj → Alternativ-; there is no alternative way → es gibt keine Alternative; alternative route → Ausweichstrecke f; alternative society → Alternativgesellschaft f; for him, other than London, the only possible alternative place to live is … → außer London kommt für ihn als Wohnort nur … infrage or in Frage, … ist für ihn als Wohnort die einzige Alternative zu London
n → Alternative f; I had no alternative (but …) → ich hatte keine andere Wahl or keine Alternative (als …)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
alternative
[ɒlˈtɜːnətɪv]1. adj (solutions) → alternativo/a, altro/a; (medicine, energy) → alternativo/a
2. n (choice) → alternativa
you have no alternative but to go → non hai altra alternativa che andare
there are several alternatives → ci sono diverse alternative or possibilità
there is no alternative → non c'è altra alternativa or scelta
you have no alternative but to go → non hai altra alternativa che andare
there are several alternatives → ci sono diverse alternative or possibilità
there is no alternative → non c'è altra alternativa or scelta
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
alternative
(oːlˈtəːnətiv) adjective offering a choice of a second possibility. An alternative arrangement can be made if my plans don't suit you.
noun a choice between two (or sometimes more) things or possibilities. You leave me no alternative but to dismiss you; I don't like fish. Is there an alternative on the menu?
alˈternatively adverbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
alternative
→ بَدِيل alternativa, alternativní alternativ alternativ, Alternative εναλλακτική λύση, εναλλακτικός alternativa, alternativo vaihtoehto, vaihtoehtoinen alternatif, alternative alternativa, alternativan alternativa, alternativo 代わりの, 選択肢 양자 택일, 양자 택일인 alternatief alternativ alternatywa, alternatywny alternativa, alternativo альтернатива, альтернативный alternativ ทางเลือก, ที่มีตัวเลือก alternatif, seçenek khác, phương án thay thế 二中择一, 二中择一的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
alternative
n. alternativa, opción.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
alternative
n alternativaEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.