alternating

• Qualifie ce qui se produit à tour de rôle ou change de façon répétée d'un état à un autre.

Describes something that occurs in turns or changes repeatedly from one state to another.

1. Reversing directionB2formaltechnical

   Describes an electric current that reverses its direction at regular intervals.

   alternatif (courant)

   • Alternating current is used in most household electrical systems.
   • The generator produces alternating voltage.
   • Alternating current can be easily transformed to different voltages.

   Synonymesoscillating

   Antonymesconstantdirectunidirectional

2. Occurring by turnsB1formal

   Happening in a sequence where one thing follows the other repeatedly.

   alternant

   • The alternating stripes of the flag are red and white.
   • They take alternating shifts at the factory.
   • The alternating pattern of the tiles creates a unique design.

   Synonymesalternatereciprocalsuccessive

   Antonymesconcurrentsimultaneous

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de faire succéder tour à tour, de changer de manière répétée entre deux ou plusieurs états, actions ou objets, ou de se succéder de façon alternative.

A verb used to indicate the act of taking turns or occurring in successive turns, or to switch repeatedly between two or more states, actions, or things.

1. Take turnsB2formal

   To occur or cause to occur in turns; to follow one after another repeatedly.

   Se succéder à tour de rôle

   • The two teams alternated possession of the ball.
   • We alternated driving during the long road trip.
   • The seasons alternate between summer and winter.

   Synonymesinterchangerotateswitchtake turns

2. Swap or replaceB2formal

   To exchange one thing for another in a recurring pattern; to take the place of another person temporarily.

   alterner / remplacer

   • She alternated as the lead singer when the main vocalist was sick.
   • The workers alternated shifts to cover the 24-hour operation.
   • He alternated with his colleague to attend the conference.

   Synonymesexchangeinterchangereplacerotatesubstituteswapswitchtake turns

3. Change direction or stateB2formal

   To reverse or change direction, attitude, or course of action repeatedly.

   changer d'état ou de direction

   • The wind alternated between blowing from the north and the south.
   • His mood alternated between excitement and anxiety.
   • The policy alternated between strict enforcement and leniency.

   Synonymesfluctuateoscillateseesawshiftswingvacillatevarywaver