lateral

¹lat·er·al

adjective \ˈla-tə-rəl also ˈla-trəl\

Definition of LATERAL

1

: of or relating to the side

2

: situated on, directed toward, or coming from the side

3

: extending from side to side <the lateral axis of an airplane>

4

: produced with passage of breath around the side of a constriction formed with the tongue <\l\ is lateral>

— lat·er·al·ly adverb

Examples of LATERAL

1. the lateral force of an earthquake
2. <from the lateral view you can see how thick the wall really is>

Origin of LATERAL

Middle English laterale, from Latin lateralis, from later-, latus side

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to LATERAL

Synonyms

side

Related Words

left, right; one-sided

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

²lateral

noun

Definition of LATERAL

1

: a branch from the main part (as in an irrigation or electrical system)

2

: a pass in football thrown parallel to the line of scrimmage or in a direction away from the opponent's goal

3

: a lateral speech sound

First Known Use of LATERAL

1851

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

³lateral

intransitive verb

Definition of LATERAL

: to throw a lateral

First Known Use of LATERAL

1944

lat·er·al

adjective \ˈlat-ə-rəl, ˈla-trəl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LATERAL

: of or relating to the side; especially of a body part : lying at or extending toward the right or left side : lying away from the median axis of the body <the lungs are lateral to the heart> <the lateral branch of the axillary artery>