alternative n
1 a possibility of choice, esp. between two things, courses of action, etc.
2 either of such choices we took the alternative of walking adj
3 presenting a choice, esp. between two possibilities only
4 (of two things) mutually exclusive
5 denoting a lifestyle, culture, art form, etc., regarded by its adherents as preferable to that of contemporary society because it is less conventional, materialistic, or institutionalized, and, often, more in harmony with nature
6 (Logic) another word for →
disjunctive →
3 ♦
alternatively adv ♦
alternativeness n
alternative curriculum n (Brit. education) any course of study offered as an alternative to the National Curriculum
alternative energy n a form of energy derived from a natural source, such as the sun, wind, tides, or waves, (Also called)
renewable energy
alternative hypothesis n (Statistics) the hypothesis that given data do not conform with a given null hypothesis: accepted only if its probability exceeds a predetermined significance level See →
hypothesis testing Compare →
null hypothesis
Alternative Investment Market n a market on the London Stock Exchange enabling small companies to raise capital and have their shares traded in a market without the expenses of a main-market listing, (Abbrev.)
AIM
alternative medicine n the treatment, alleviation, or prevention of disease by techniques such as osteopathy and acupuncture, allied with attention to factors such as diet and emotional stability, which affect a person's general wellbeing, (Also called)
complementary medicine See also →
holism →
2
Alternative Vote n modifier of or relating to a system of voting in which voters list the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate obtains more than 50% of first-preference votes, the votes for the bottom candidate are redistributed according to the voters' next preference See →
proportional representation
