alternation

CEFRC2

/ˈɒl.tə(ɹ)ˌneɪ.ʃən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A repeated change between two people, things, or states.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister.

Examples

  • The alternation of day and night was soothing.

  • The pattern is created by the alternation of light and dark tiles.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. 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. A pattern by which more than one construct is possible, as with "Alice cooked Bob dinner" and "Alice cooked dinner for Bob".

  3. The "inclusive or" truth function.

More examples

In context

  • The team practiced alternation of serves.

  • alternation between night shifts and day shifts

  • alternation of summer and winter

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The rapid blank of light and dark in the room gave me a headache.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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