Why "alternate"and not "alternative" CD?

[Cybe R. Wizard]

On Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:14:05 +0200
Ioannis Vranos <ioannis.vranos at gmail.com> wrote:

> With English not being my native language, I think the proper term for
> "alternate CD" is "alternative CD". Why "alternate" is used instead?
> 
Ah, synonyms, the very life of English!

It is used because it is an alternate usage of, not a word, but a
definition.  An alternative to alternative, if you will. 
 
See definition 2 below:

----------
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  alternate
      adj 1: every second one of a series; "the cleaning lady comes on
             alternate Wednesdays"; "jam every other day"- the White
             Queen
      2: serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan"
         [syn: {alternate}, {alternative}, {substitute}]
----------

...except for:

----------
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
[gcide]:

  Alternative \Al*ter"na*tive\, n. [Cf. F. alternative, LL.
     alternativa.]
     1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but
        not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is
        taken, the other must be left.
----------

...so, as you  can see, you may use either word interchangeably or
confine yourself to, "alternate,' since we needn't leave the one
<thing> when choosing the other.

Cybe R. Wizard
-- 
Strength through Unity.
Unity through faith.
	Adam Sutler