Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 ADJ [ADJ n] Alternative is used to describe something that is different from the usual things of its kind, or the usual ways of doing something, in modern Western society. For example, an alternative lifestyle does not follow conventional ways of living and working. □  …unconventional parents who embraced the alternative lifestyle of the Sixties.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Alternative medicine uses traditional ways of curing people, such as medicines made from plants, massage, and acupuncture. □  …alternative health care.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] Alternative energy uses natural sources of energy such as the sun, wind, or water for power and fuel, rather than oil, coal, or nuclear power. SYNONYMS alternative NOUN 1

substitute:…tests on humans to find a blood substitute made from animal blood.

option:What other options do you have? ADJ 2

other:He would have to accept it; there was no other way.

alternate:His group was forced to turn back and take an alternate route.

al|ter|na|tive|ly /ɔːltɜː ^r nət I vli/ ADV You use alternatively to introduce a suggestion or to mention something different to what has just been stated. □  Allow about eight hours for the drive from Calais. Alternatively, you can fly to Brive.

al|ter|na|tor /ɔː ltə ^r ne I tə ^r / (alternators ) N‑COUNT An alternator is a device, used especially in a car, that creates an electrical current that changes direction as it flows.

al|though ◆◆◆ /ɔːlðoʊ /

1 CONJ You use although to introduce a subordinate clause which contains a statement which contrasts with the statement in the main clause. □  Although he is known to only a few, his reputation among them is very great. □  Although the shooting has stopped for now, the destruction left behind is enormous.

2 CONJ You use although to introduce a subordinate clause which contains a statement which makes the main clause of the sentence seem surprising or unexpected. □  Although I was only six, I can remember seeing it on TV.

3 CONJ You use although to introduce a subordinate clause which gives some information that is relevant to the main clause but modifies the strength of that statement. □  He was in love with her, although he did not put that name to it.

4 CONJ You use although when admitting a fact about something which you regard as less important than a contrasting fact. □  Although they're expensive, they last forever and never go out of style. USAGE although

When a sentence begins with although or though , don’t use ‘but’ or ‘yet’ to introduce the main clause. Don’t say, for example, ‘ Although he was late, yet he stopped to buy a sandwich ’. You say ‘Although he was late, he stopped to buy a sandwich’. □  Although he was English, he spoke fluent French. SYNONYMS although CONJ 1

though:He's very attractive, though he certainly isn't a ladykiller.

while:While the numbers are relatively small, the potential market is large.

even though:Even though I work alone, there are people who I can interact with.

al|time|ter /æ lt I miːtə ^r , [AM ] ælt I m I tə ^r / (altimeters ) N‑COUNT An altimeter is an instrument in an aircraft that shows the height of the aircraft above the ground.

al|ti|tude /æ lt I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ (altitudes ) N‑VAR If something is at a particular altitude , it is at that height above sea level. □ [+ of ] The aircraft had reached its cruising altitude of about 39,000 feet.

alto /æ ltoʊ/ (altos )

1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] An alto is a woman who has a low singing voice.

2 N‑COUNT An alto or male alto is a man who has the highest male singing voice.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] An alto musical instrument has a range of notes of medium pitch.