alternation

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The reciprocal succession of (normally two) things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence
2. (countable, uncountable) The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister.
3. (countable, uncountable) Ablaut.
4. (countable, uncountable) A pattern by which more than one construct is possible, as with "Alice cooked Bob dinner" and "Alice cooked dinner for Bob".
5. (countable, uncountable) The "inclusive or" truth function.
6. (countable, uncountable) A sequence that alternates between positive and negative values.
7. (countable, proscribed, uncountable) A permutation.
8. (countable, uncountable) A construct in a regular expression that can match any of several specified subexpressions.
9. (countable, uncountable) A type of partial truncation of a polygon, polyhedron or tiling in which alternate vertices are removed.

Synonyms

change

shift

substitution

rotation

interchange

interchanging

amendment

modification

variation

ablaut

transition

alternating

alternate

mutation

mutualism

periodicity

qualification

reciprocation

reform

regular expression

relay

relief

replacement

seesaw

stagger

stepping

subrogation

swapping

switch

tide

transformation

transmutation

turnover

variance

variate

vicissitude

volte-face

change of ownership

taking turn

alteration

alternative

changeover

commutation

conversion

correct

diversity

fluctuation

gradation

intergrowth

interlock

Translations

alternancia

alternance

alternanza

avvicendamento

εναλλαγή

alternación

alternança

afwisseling

alternazione

Halbwelle

περιτροπή

Wechsel

Wechselbetrieb

alternação

vicissitudo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒl.tə(ɹ).ˌneɪ.ʃən/

Etymology

Cognate with French: alternation

In summary

Learned borrowing from Latin alternatio; compare French alternation. By surface analysis, alternate + -ion.