2. Another choice.
"Betty's parents could not longer pay for her college fees, and so she had no alternative but to find a part-time job."
This is usually reserved for minor offenses.
- Methanol.
- Denatured ethanol, and other alcohols.
- Fuel mixtures containing 85 percent or more by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; such as, natural gas.
- Liquefied petroleum gas (propane).
- Hydrogen.
- Coal-derived liquid fuels.
- Fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials (biofuels; such as, soy diesel fuel).
- Electricity (including electricity from solar energy).
The vehicle could be either a dedicated vehicle designed to operate exclusively on alternative fuel or a nondedicated vehicle designed to operate on alternative fuel and/or a traditional fuel.
2. Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems: "The new family lived an alternative lifestyle that the neighbors thought was strange."
3. Suggesting or reflecting values that are different from those of a social establishment or mainstream: "There was an alternative newspaper that reported all kinds of misbehavior by public officials, movie and other entertainment personalities, and even some religious leaders."
Alternate and alternative have different applications
The two words really do have quite separate and distinct meanings: alternate implies the taking of turns, and alternative implies a choice. Start with the verb “to alternate” and carry its meaning over to the adjective alternate. You have a useful modifier that says, in a word, “First this one, then that one,” or, “Now me, then you, then me again, and so on.” Don’t corrupt alternate with any other confusing meaning.
Then take alternative, which means the choosing of one out of two courses; as a noun, it means such a choice (or “option”), and as an adjective, it is a synonym for “substitute”. Limit it to that. Let’s not blow alternately hot and cold on this: the alternative to holding the line is fuzziness.
"The awning had alternate red and white stripes."
"If Vernon wants to get to Los Angeles by tonight, he has no alternative but to go by plane."
The two words have quite separate and distinct meanings: alternate implies the taking of turns, while alternative implies a choice.
Let's not blow alternately hot and cold on this; the alternative to holding the line is fuzziness of meanings.
2. A reference to, or belonging to, the ancient Roman plebs.
3. Common, commonplace, or vulgar; such as, a plebian or a plebeian joke.