| / English Dictionary |
ALTERNATIVE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
One of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
Example:
my only choice is to refuse
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("alternative" is a kind of...):
deciding; decision making (the cognitive process of reaching a decision)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alternative"):
obverse (the more conspicuous of two alternatives or cases or sides)
druthers; preference (the right or chance to choose)
default; default option (an option that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified)
opening; possibility; possible action (a possible alternative)
impossibility; impossible action (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)
Derivation:
alternative (necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities
Example:
alternative possibilities were neutrality or war
Classified under:
Similar:
disjunctive (serving or tending to divide or separate)
Derivation:
alternative (one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Pertaining to unconventional choices
Example:
an alternative life style
Classified under:
Similar:
unconventional (not conventional or conformist)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Serving or used in place of another
Example:
an alternative plan
Synonyms:
alternate; alternative; substitute
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
secondary (being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate)
Context examples:
One question about the alternative pathway is how the spontaneous activation of C3 in plasma leads to the lysis of specific cells in the absence of antibody on the cell surface.
(Alternative Complement Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
The possibility that oral Bacillus might be an effective alternative to antibiotic treatment for some conditions is scientifically intriguing.
(Study finds probiotic Bacillus eliminates Staphylococcus bacteria, National Institutes of Health)
The new device from UCLA can be integrated into solar panels to provide an alternative power source during snowy days when not enough sunlight makes it to the solar array.
(Nanogenerator Creates Electricity from Snowfall, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
Microbes seem far-fetched at this point, but the other alternative — that the Martian atmosphere contained more oxygen in the past than it does now — seems possible.
(NASA Rover Findings Point to a More Earth-like Martian Past, NASA)
The ability of antibacterial clays to buffer pH also appears key to their healing potential and viability as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
(New answer to MRSA, other 'superbug' infections: clay minerals?, NSF)
Vegetable juice is a lower-calorie alternative to fruit juice, but may contain a lot of salt.
(Sugary Fruit Juices May Increase Risk of Early Death, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
It is a type of complementary and alternative medicine.
(Acupressure, NCI Dictionary)
An exon may be connected to any one of several alternative exons to form the mRNA and generate related proteins, often in a tissue or developmental stage specific manner.
(Alternate Splicing, NCI Thesaurus)
Mutually exclusive alternative forms of the same gene occupying the same locus on homologous chromosomes, differing in nucleotide sequence and governing the same biochemical and developmental process.
(Allele, NCI Thesaurus)
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
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