alternate vs main

alternate

noun
  • A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means. 

  • A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty. 

  • A replacement of equal or greater value or function. 

  • That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. 

  • Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns. 

verb
  • To vary by turns. 

  • To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. 

  • To perform an alternation (removal of alternate vertices) on (a polytope or tessellation); to remove vertices (from a face or edge) as part of an alternation. 

  • To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with. 

adj
  • Other; alternative. 

  • Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence 

  • Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second. 

  • Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly) 

main

noun
  • That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross. 

  • The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character. 

  • The high seas. 

  • A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main. 

  • A banker's shovel for coins. 

verb
  • To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game. 

adv
  • Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much. 

adj
  • Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal. 

  • Big; angry. 

  • Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part. 

  • Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel. 

How often have the words alternate and main occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )