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Stagger vs Alternate - What's the difference?

stagger | alternate |

In lang=en terms the difference between stagger and alternate

is that stagger is multiple groups doing the same thing in a uniform fashion, but starting at different, evenly-spaced, times or places (attested from 1856[http://wwwetymonlinecom/indexphp?term=stagger etymology] in ) while alternate is to vary by turns.

As nouns the difference between stagger and alternate

is that stagger is an unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing, as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion; vertigo; -- often in the plural; as, the stagger of a drunken man while alternate is that which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

As verbs the difference between stagger and alternate

is that stagger is sway unsteadily, reel, or totter while alternate is to perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.

As an adjective 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.

stagger

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing, as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion; vertigo; -- often in the plural; as, the stagger of a drunken man.
  • A disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling; as, parasitic staggers; apoplectic or sleepy staggers.
  • bewilderment; perplexity.
  • In motorsport, the difference in circumference between the left and right tires on a racing vehicle. It is used on oval tracks to make the car turn better in the corners. Stock Car Racing magazine article on stagger, February 2009
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • sway unsteadily, reel, or totter
  • # In standing or walking, to sway from one side to the other as if about to fall; to stand or walk unsteadily; to reel or totter.
  • She began to stagger across the room.
  • #* Dryden
  • Deep was the wound; he staggered with the blow.
  • # To cause to reel or totter.
  • The powerful blow of his opponent's fist staggered the boxer.
  • #* Shakespeare
  • That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire / That staggers thus my person.
  • # To cease to stand firm; to begin to give way; to fail.
  • #* Addison
  • The enemy staggers .
  • doubt, waver, be shocked
  • # To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate.
  • #* Bible, Rom. iv. 20
  • He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.
  • # To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to shock.
  • He will stagger the committee when he presents his report.
  • #* Howell
  • Whosoever will read the story of this war will find himself much staggered .
  • #* Burke
  • Grants to the house of Russell were so enormous, as not only to outrage economy, but even to stagger credibility.
  • Multiple groups doing the same thing in a uniform fashion, but starting at different, evenly-spaced, times or places (attested from 1856 Etymology] in [[:w:Online Etymology Dictionary, Online Etymology Dictionary]).
  • # To arrange (a series of parts) on each side of a median line alternately, as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam.
  • # To arrange similar objects such that each is ahead or above and to one side of the next.
  • We will stagger the starting positions for the race on the oval track.
  • # To schedule in intervals.
  • We will stagger the run so the faster runners can go first, then the joggers.
  • See also

    * bestagger * staggeringly * staggers

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    alternate

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • 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.
  • And bid alternate passions fall and rise . -
  • (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.
  • the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
  • (US) Other; alternative.
  • Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
  • (botany) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
  • (Gray)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
  • * Matthew Prior
  • Grateful alternates of substantial.
  • (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.
  • Verb

    (alternat)
  • To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
  • * Grew
  • The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
  • To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with .
  • The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
  • To vary by turns.
  • ''The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.

    Derived terms

    * alternate allegation * alternate angles * alternate generation * alternately * alternation

    See also

    * alternative * variant