| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary al·ter·na·tive \\ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv, al-\\ adjective DATE 1540
1. alternate 12. offering or expressing a choice several alternative plans3. different from the usual or conventional: as a. existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system an alternative newspaper alternative lifestyles b. of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to conventional rock and is typically influenced by punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk music c. of or relating to alternative medicine alternative therapies• al·ter·na·tive·ly adverb• al·ter·na·tive·ness nounnoun DATE 1624
1. a. a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen b. an opportunity for deciding between two or more courses or propositions2. a. one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen b. something which can be chosen instead the only alternative to intervention3. alternative rock musicSynonyms: see choice
alternative
1580s, "offering one or the other of two," from M.L. alternativus, from L. alternatus, pp. of alternare (see alternate). Sense of "the other of two which may be chosen" is recorded from 1838. Adj. use, "purporting to be a superior choice to what is in general use" was current by 1970 (earliest ref. is to the media); e.g. alternative energy (1975).
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishalternative
noun ADJ. attractive, constructive, effective, good, radical, useful | acceptable, available, credible, possible, practical, real, realistic, reasonable, satisfactory, serious, suitable, viable Is there a viable alternative to prison? | clear, obvious | cheap, healthy, interesting, safe a healthier alternative to fizzy drinks VERB + ALTERNATIVE have We have two alternatives. | offer, provide His idea seemed to offer a possible alternative. | seek seeking alternatives to nuclear power | find We'll have to find an alternative. PREP. ~ for There is no alternative for those with no car of their own. | ~ to Is there an alternative to surgery for this complaint? PHRASES have little/no alternative (but to) She had no alternative but to do as he said. | leave sb with no alternative (but to) He was left with no alternative but to hobble to the nearest telephone box. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ alternativeal·ter·na·tive / C:l5tE:nEtiv; NAmE -5tE:rn- / noun a thing that you can choose to do or have out of two or more possibilities 可供选择的事物: You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly; those are the two alternatives. 你的工资可以按周以现金支取,或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。 We had no alternative but to fire Gibson. 我们别无他法,只有辞退吉布森。 There is a vegetarian alternative on the menu every day. 每天的菜单上另有素食餐点。 ⇨ note at option adjective[only before noun] 1. (also al·ter·nate especially in NAmE) that can be used instead of sth else 可供替代的: an alternative method of doing sth 做某事的其他方法 Do you have an alternative solution? 你有没有别的解决办法？ 2. different from the usual or traditional way in which sth is done 非传统的；他择性的: alternative comedy / lifestyles / values 非传统喜剧/生活方式/价值 alternative energy (= electricity or power that is produced using the energy from the sun, wind, water, etc.) 代用能源(指太阳能、风能、水能等)
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: alternative medicine , or alternative school , or alternative cost , or alternative denial , or alternative tariff , or alternative title , or alternative vote , or alternative writ
al·ter·na·tiveI. \ȯlˈtərnəd.iv, -tə̄n-, -təin-, -nətiv also al-\ adjectiveEtymology: alternate (I) +-ive1. : offering a choice of two or more things : offering for choice a second thing or proposition or other things or propositions < a means of transportation alternative to the railroad > < several alternative plans >: expressing a choice or choices < alternative proposition >2. of a conjunction : indicating that the terms connected are to be taken not together but one in place of the other (as or in “for dessert you may have cake or pie”) 3. : alternate • al·ter·na·tive·ly adverbII. noun( -s) 1. a. : a proposition or situation offering a choice between two things wherein if one thing is chosen the other is rejected < a government facing the alternative of high taxes or poor highways > b. : an opportunity or necessity for deciding between two courses or propositions either of which may be chosen but not both < the alternative of going by train or by plane >2. a. : either of two paired or contrasted things, courses, or propositions offered for one's choice in a situation in which taking either necessarily entails rejecting the other < that humanism is the alternative to religion — T.S.Eliot > b. : a counter case matched with one expressed or accepted and characterized by implicit or explicit unreality or implausibility < if the states had any power, it was assumed that they had all power and that the necessary alternative was to deny it altogether — O.W.Holmes †1935 >3. a. : one of a number of things or courses offered for choice < a third alternative > < certain customs in our culture are alternatives > specifically : one of the subsidiary statements preceded or followed by or in an alternation : alternant b. : a choice or an opportunity or necessity for choice among three or more things Synonyms: see choice III. adjective1. : existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system < alternative newspaper > < whose kids went to the same alternative nursery school — Cyra McFadden >also : different from the usual or conventional < alternative fuels >2. : of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to established rock, is typically influenced by hard rock and punk and sometimes by hip-hop and pop, and is commonly associated with younger audiences and their culture < alternative music > < the alternative market >IV. noun: alternative rock music
|