Alternate vs Intermittent - What's the difference?
alternate | intermittent |
Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
(mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
(US) Other; alternative.
(botany) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
* Matthew Prior
(US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
(mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
(US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
(heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.
To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
* Grew
To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with .
To vary by turns.
Stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant
(specifically, geology, of a body of water) Existing only for certain seasons; that is, being dry for part of the year.
As adjectives the difference between alternate and intermittent
is that alternate is being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal while intermittent is stopping and starting at intervals; coming after a particular time span; not steady or constant.As nouns the difference between alternate and intermittent
is that alternate is that which alternates with something else; vicissitude while intermittent is an intermittent fever or disease.As a verb alternate
is to perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.alternate
English
(Webster 1913)Adjective
(-)- And bid alternate passions fall and rise . -
- the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
- Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
- (Gray)
Noun
(en noun)- Grateful alternates of substantial.
Verb
(alternat)- The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
- The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
- ''The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Derived terms
* alternate allegation * alternate angles * alternate generation * alternately * alternationSee also
* alternative * variantintermittent
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The day was cloudy with intermittent rain.
- Intermittent bugs are most difficult to reproduce.
- The area has many intermittent lakes and streams.