Definition of lateral
1 : of or relating to the side a lateral view
2 : situated on, directed toward, or coming from the side the lateral branches of a tree
3 : extending from side to side the lateral axis of an airplane
4 phonetics : produced with passage of breath around the side of a constriction formed with the tongue \l\ is lateral
laterally
adverbPeople Are Reading
Examples of lateral in a Sentence
the lateral force of an earthquake
from the lateral view you can see how thick the wall really is
Recent Examples of lateral from the Web
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Shroud: A cable or line providing lateral support for a mast.
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Lateral Lunge Squat Jump How to do it: Stand with your feet about twice hips-width apart, toes facing forward.
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Lateral Lunge Squat Jump How to do it: Stand with your feet about twice hips-width apart, toes facing forward.
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The electronic control system anticipates driver inputs by monitoring acceleration, braking and lateral-g forces, then pretty much always chooses the ideal ratio.
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The former Boston College baseball star was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2012.
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Alternating Lateral Squat Sets: 3 Reps: 6 each side Rest: 30 seconds B1.
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Not long after that, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
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His lateral quickness made him one of the state's best net protectors.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lateral.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Lateral shows up in all kinds of contexts. A lateral job change is one that keeps you at about the same job level and salary. A coach might have special drills to improve his players' lateral speed and agility. The British speak of "lateral thinking", thinking that grabs ideas that may not seem to be relevant but turn out to work well—what we might call "thinking outside the box". But we know lateral best from football. A lateral pass is a pass of the ball between teammates that usually goes to the side and slightly backward from the direction in which they're advancing; unlike a forward pass, a lateral may be made from any position, and any number may be made in a single play.
Origin and Etymology of lateral
Middle English laterale, from Latin lateralis, from later-, latus side
Other Anatomy Terms
lateral
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
Origin and Etymology of lateral
see 1lateral
lateral
Definition of lateral
intransitive verb
: to throw a lateral
Origin and Etymology of lateral
see 1lateral
LATERAL Defined for English Language Learners
lateral
playDefinition of lateral for English Language Learners
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: toward, on, or coming from the side
lateral
Definition of lateral for English Language Learners
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American football : a pass thrown to the side or backward
LATERAL Defined for Kids
lateral
playDefinition of lateral for Students
: being on or directed toward the side lateral movement
laterally
adverbMedical Dictionary
lateral
playMedical 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
Learn More about lateral
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lateral Spanish Central: Translation of lateral Nglish: Translation of lateral for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lateral for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lateral
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