alternative

al·ter·na·tive  (ôl-tûrn-tv, l-)

n.

1.

a. The choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities.

b. A situation presenting such a choice.

c. Either of these possibilities. See Synonyms at choice.

2. Usage Problem One of a number of things from which one must be chosen.

adj.

1. Allowing or necessitating a choice between two or more things.

2.

a. Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems: an alternative lifestyle.

b. Espousing or reflecting values that are different from those of the establishment or mainstream: an alternative newspaper; alternative greeting cards.

3. Usage Problem Substitute or different; other.

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al·terna·tive·ly adv.

Usage Note: Some traditionalists hold that alternative should be used only in situations where the number of choices involved is exactly two, because of the word's historical relation to Latin alter, "the other of two." Despite the word's longstanding use to mean "one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen" and the acceptance of this usage by many language critics, a substantial portion of the Usage Panel adheres to the traditional view, with only 49 percent accepting the sentence Of the three alternatives, the first is the least distasteful. · Alternative is also sometimes used to refer to a variant or substitute in cases where there is no element of choice involved, as in We will do our best to secure alternative employment for employees displaced by the closing of the factory. This sentence is unacceptable to 60 percent of the Usage Panel. · Alternative should not be confused with alternate. Correct usage requires The class will meet on alternate (not alternative) Tuesdays.

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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

1. presenting a choice, esp between two possibilities only

2. (of two things) mutually exclusive

3. (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

4. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic another word for disjunctive [3]

alternatively  adv

alternativeness  n

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See: variant.

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, choice 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" alternate, substitute 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"

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alternative

noun

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

Translations

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?

2. (= non-traditional) → alternativo
the alternative society → la sociedad alternativa

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

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

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alternative [ɔːlˈtɜː^rnətɪv]

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

(= 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

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.

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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 …)

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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

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alternative

adj alternative [oːlˈtəːnətiv]

offering a choice of a second possibility An alternative arrangement can be made if my plans don't suit you. alternatief بَدِيل алтернативен jiný alternativ alternativ εναλλακτικός alternativo alterna- tiivne دیگر؛ ثانوی vaihtoehtoinen autre חֲלוּפִי वैकल्पिक alternativni alternatív alternatif sem um er að velja, annar (kostur) alternativo 代りの 양자 택일의 alternatyvus alternatīvs; izvēles- pilihan lain alternatief alternativ alternatywny alternativo alt альтернативный alternatívny drugačen alternativan annan, alternativ- สำรอง başka, öbür, alternatif 替代的 альтернативний متبادل طور پر có thể lựa chọn 可供替换的

n

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? alternatief, ander keuse خَيار بَيْن إثْنَين избор jiná možnost alternativ; valg die Alternative εναλλακτική λύση alternativa valikuvõimalus چاره؛ گزینه vaihtoehto alternative חֲלוּפָה, בְּרֵרָה विकल्प alternativa választás(i lehetőség) alternatif valkostur alternativa 二者択一 양자 택일 alternatyva, kitas pasirinkimas alternatīva; izvēle pilihan alternatief valg, alternativ alternatywa, inna możliwość alternativa alter­nativă альтернатива iná možnosť (druga) izbira alternativa alternativ, val ทางเลือก 兩者(或更多選擇)中選一項，替代選擇 альтернатива, вибір متبادل sự lựa chọn 两者挑一

adv alˈternatively

alternatiewelik بِصُورَة بَدِيلَه алтернативно jinak, nebo alternativt anderenfalls εναλλακτικά o bien, alternativamente teisel juhul متناوباً vaihtoehtoisesti sinon, ou bien לְחֲלוּפִין विकल्पत: alternativno vagylagosan bergantian annars, að öðrum kosti alternativamente 選択的に 양자 택일로 arba alternatīvi dengan plihan lain anders alternativt w przeciwnym wypadku doutro modo dacă nu, în loc альтернативно alebo drugače, sicer pa alternativno alternativt โดยมีทางเลือก yoksa, aksi halde 替代地 альтернативно باری باری ، متبادل طور پر như một sự lựa chọn 两者挑一地

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alternative → بديل, بَدِيل alternativa, druhý možný 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 có thể lựa chọn, phương án lựa chọn 二中择一, 二中择一的