Occurring in turns repeatedly; switching back and forth between two different things, positions, or conditions.
From Latin 'alternare,' derived from 'alter' (the other, another). The root also gave us 'alternate' and 'alternative,' all describing the act of switching between options.
Alternating current (AC) electricity, which powers your home, literally switches direction back and forth 60 times per second—and the word 'alternating' perfectly captures how it oscillates between positive and negative just like taking turns!
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