Each of the two distinct forms which succeed one another in the life cycle of an organism which undergoes alternation of generations; (also) the occurrence of such a succession of forms.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Rymer Jones (1810–1880), morphologist and physiologist.
Definition of alternate generation in US English:
alternate generation
noun
Biology
Each of the two distinct forms which succeed one another in the life cycle of an organism which undergoes alternation of generations; (also) the occurrence of such a succession of forms.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Rymer Jones (1810–1880), morphologist and physiologist.