Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

alternative

1 adjective
     
al‧ter‧na‧tive1 S2 W2
1 [only before noun] 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
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)
alternative medicine/therapies (=medical treatment that is not based on the usual western methods)
Acupuncture is widely used by practitioners of alternative medicine.
—alternatively adverb:
You can relax on the beach or alternatively try the bustling town centre.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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