al‧ter‧na‧tive S2 W2 AC / ɔltɜnətɪv $ ɒltɜr-, æl- / 形容词 #

1 [仅用于名词前] an alternative idea, plan etc is different from the one you have and can be used instead

alternative ways/approach/methods etc

alternative approaches to learning

Have you any alternative suggestions ?

An alternative route is along the Via Unione.

2 deliberately different from what is usual, expected, or traditional

alternative music/theatre etc

Tucson’s alternative radio station

sources of alternative energy (= energy produced by the sun, wind etc rather than by gas, coal etc )

tolerance of alternative lifestyles

alternative medicine/therapies (= medical treatment that is not based on the usual western methods )

Acupuncture is widely used by practitioners of alternative medicine.

— alternatively 副词 :

You can relax on the beach or alternatively try the bustling town centre.

alternative S2 W3 AC 名词 [可数名词] #

something you can choose to do or use instead of something else alternative to Is there a viable alternative to the present system? If payment is not received legal action will be our only alternative . I had no alternative but to report him to the police. He quickly assessed what alternatives were open to him.

COLLOCATIONS

adjectives a good/attractive alternative If you don’t want curtains, blinds are a good alternative. a possible/acceptable/satisfactory alternative I’m busy tomorrow but Wednesday is a possible alternative. a real/serious alternative Co-operation offers the only real alternative. a viable alternative (= that can work as successfully ) Hydrogen offers a viable alternative to petrol and diesel. a practical alternative This treatment represents a practical alternative to surgery. a cheap alternative A take-away is a cheap alternative to eating out. a safe alternative Will there ever be a safe alternative to nuclear power? a healthy alternative Low-fat biscuits are a healthy alternative to cake.

verbs have an alternative You have a few alternatives to choose from. offer/provide an alternative If your first choice is not available, we always have alternatives to offer. suggest an alternative Do you have an alternative you can suggest? seek an alternative People are seeking alternatives to meat-based dishes. find an alternative The program is directed to finding alternatives to oil and natural gas.

phrases have no/little alternative (but to do something) He had no alternative but to resign. leave somebody with no alternative (but to do something) I was left with no alternative but to seek legal advice.

THESAURUS

choice : choice of : The school seems OK, but there isn’t a great choice of courses. | have a choice (= be able to choose from several things ) : With her high grades and athletic skill, Celeste had her choice of colleges. | have no choice but to do something (= to be forced to do something because there is nothing else you can choose ) : Spooner says he had no choice but to file for bankruptcy. | wide choice (= a lot of things to choose from ) : There is a wide choice of hotels and hostels in the town. option one of the things that you can choose to do in a particular situation : He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football. | keep/leave your options open (= delay choosing so that you continue to have several things to choose from ) : I haven’t signed any contracts yet – I want to keep my options open. alternative one of two or more ways of doing something : Did you consider other alternatives before you moved in with Lucy? | alternative to : There is no practical alternative to our current policy. | have no alternative (= to not have a choice ) : He says he doesn’t want to see a doctor, but I’m afraid he has no alternative.