| 释义 |
al·ter·na·tive
I. \ȯlˈtərnəd.iv, -tə̄n-, -təin-, -nətiv also al-\ adjective
Etymology: alternate (I) +-ive
1. : offering a choice of two or more things : offering for choice a second thing or proposition or other things or propositions
< a means of transportation alternative to the railroad >
< several alternative plans >
: expressing a choice or choices
< alternative proposition >
2. of a conjunction : indicating that the terms connected are to be taken not together but one in place of the other (as or in “for dessert you may have cake or pie”)
3. : alternate
• al·ter·na·tive·ly adverb
II. noun
(-s)
1.
a. : a proposition or situation offering a choice between two things wherein if one thing is chosen the other is rejected
< a government facing the alternative of high taxes or poor highways >
b. : an opportunity or necessity for deciding between two courses or propositions either of which may be chosen but not both
< the alternative of going by train or by plane >
2.
a. : either of two paired or contrasted things, courses, or propositions offered for one's choice in a situation in which taking either necessarily entails rejecting the other
< that humanism is the alternative to religion — T.S.Eliot >
b. : a counter case matched with one expressed or accepted and characterized by implicit or explicit unreality or implausibility
< if the states had any power, it was assumed that they had all power and that the necessary alternative was to deny it altogether — O.W.Holmes †1935 >
3.
a. : one of a number of things or courses offered for choice
< a third alternative >
< certain customs in our culture are alternatives >
specifically : one of the subsidiary statements preceded or followed by or in an alternation : alternant
b. : a choice or an opportunity or necessity for choice among three or more things
Synonyms: see choice
III. adjective
1. : existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system
< alternative newspaper >
< whose kids went to the same alternative nursery school — Cyra McFadden >
also : different from the usual or conventional
< alternative fuels >
2. : of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to established rock, is typically influenced by hard rock and punk and sometimes by hip-hop and pop, and is commonly associated with younger audiences and their culture
< alternative music >
< the alternative market >
IV. noun
: alternative rock music |