alternative

al·ter·na·tive

A0232100 (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.

alternative

(ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv) n1. a possibility of choice, esp between two things, courses of action, etc2. either of such choices: we took the alternative of walking. adj3. presenting a choice, esp between two possibilities only4. (of two things) mutually exclusive5. (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 nature6. (Logic) logic another word for disjunctive³ alˈternatively adv alˈternativeness n

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.

alternative

See: variant.

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.

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"option, choicedeciding, 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 specifiedpossible action, possibility, opening - a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility"impossible action, impossibility - an alternative that is not availableHobson's choice - the choice of taking what is offered or nothing at allsoft 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"alternate, substitutesecondary - 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"

alternative

noun1. substitute, choice, other (of two), option, preference, recourse New treatments may provide an alternative to painkillers.adjective1. 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

alternative

nounThe power or right of choosing:choice, option.

Translations

两者挑一二中择一二中择一的可供替换的可供选择的事物

alternative

(oːlˈtəːnətiv) adjective offering a choice of a second possibility. An alternative arrangement can be made if my plans don't suit you.可供替换的 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? 两者挑一，可供选择的事物 alˈternatively adverb两者挑一地

alternative

→ 二中择一zhCN, 二中择一的zhCN

alternative

Referring to that which is not conventional, mainstream or traditional, which is used primarily in the context of alternative–complementary medicine.

alternative

adjective Referring to that which is not conventional, mainstream, or traditional, which is used primarily in the context of alternative–complementary medicine. Cf Fringe, Integrative, Mainstream. noun One of two or more choices; option. See Reduction alternative, Refinement alternative, Replacement alternative, Therapeutic alternative.

Patient discussion about alternative

Q. Anybody familiar with alternative treatment for ADHD? A. We use two parallel programs for children with ADHD and all developmental problems. This also includes dyslexia, learning disability, auditory processing disorder, global developmental disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, autism spectrum, failure to thrive, etc. . .
The two programs go hand-in-hand. One is about what caused the developmental process to get stuck or sluggish. The other is about encouraging the developmental process to catch up when it is behind.
Most programs for children with developmental problems attempt to medicate or train away the symptoms. If a child is hyperactive or unfocused, doctors prescribe a medication which reduces hyperactivity or improves focus. This is often hit-and-miss and many children need to take many months for the doctor to find the correct medicine and correct dosage for the child. But these medications do nothing for the underlying cause. The developmental process got stuck and needs to be re-engaged.
From our experience, the &

Q. What are natural or alternative ways to beat depression? I keep reading about how depression is caused by 'chemical imbalances' in the brain, and it feels like I don't stand a chance at beating it without going on Anti-depressants, but I don't want to go down this route cause I'm worried about the side-effects.Can anyone suggest natural ways to beat depression that don't involve medication?A. Here are couple of alternative ways to treat depression:
http://www.theindian.co.nz/testing/default.asp?page=509
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/926049/top_10_ways_to_beat_depression_naturally.html
but if all of this doesn’t work- I recommend medical help. It can help you immensely. It’s much better then walking around with depression.

Q. Is there any danger in the alternative treatment of Acupuncture? I've been suffering from back pains for about 3 months now. I tried Acupuncture for the first time yesterday and was wondering whether somebody in the community tried it and have any knowledge about the success and dangerous of such a treatment.A. Hi Justin - Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience with me. You are right, I should ask these questions. I will ask my therapist and follow your advice although the place and the therapist look good and professional to me.

More discussions about alternative

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Patient discussion about alternative

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Synonyms for alternative

noun substitute

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adj different

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adj unconventional

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adj substitute

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Synonyms for alternative

noun the power or right of choosing

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Synonyms for alternative

noun one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

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adj serving or used in place of another

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adj necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities

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adj pertaining to unconventional choices

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