lateral

[ lat-er-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the side; situated at, proceeding from, or directed to a side:

   a lateral view.

2. pertaining to or entailing a position, office, etc., that is different but equivalent or roughly equivalent in status, as distinguished from a promotion or demotion:

   a lateral move.

3. Phonetics. articulated so that the breath passes on either or both sides of the tongue, as l.

noun

1. a lateral part or extension, as a branch or shoot.
2. Mining. a small drift off to the side of a principal one.
3. Phonetics. a lateral speech sound.
4. Football. lateral pass.

verb (used without object)

1. Football. to throw a lateral pass.
2. to move laterally or sideways:

   migrating birds lateraling down into Cape May.

verb (used with object)

1. Football. to throw (the ball) in a lateral pass.

lateral

/ ˈlætərəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the side or sides

   a lateral blow

2. phonetics (of a speech sound like l ) pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the centre of the alveolar ridge, leaving space on one or both sides for the passage of the airstream

noun

1. a lateral object, part, passage, or movement
2. phonetics a lateral speech sound
3. botany a branch, leaf, or bud that grows out from the side of a stem or trunk

Derived Forms

• ˈlaterally, adverb

Other Words From

• lat·er·al·ly adverb
• pseu·do·lat·er·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lateral¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin laterālis “of the side,” equivalent to later- (stem of latus ) “side” + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lateral¹

C17: from Latin laterālis, from latus side

Example Sentences

These lateral areas assess whether behaviors conform to social norms, and exert inhibitory control over inappropriate or maladaptive behavior.

From Nautilus

As a result, roots grow longer, lateral roots develop, and more root hairs sprout.

From Nautilus

Social pressure, technological innovations, and economic trends are all closing in on its main product, so it’s trying to make a lateral move into another bloated, polluting industry.

From Vox

Meanwhile, he said, several dozen of the department’s more proactive-minded officers responded to the new rules and paperwork by simply deciding to “lateral out” to a job in another police department.

From ProPublica

On July 18, responding to Musk’s call for job applicants who wanted to help “solve” brain and spinal injuries, a Twitter user asked if Neuralink could also help disabled people living with injuries, autism and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

From Fortune

Lateral Squats - For this variation, you step to the side as your do your squats.

From The Daily Beast

U.S. policy stipulates that military coups trigger an automatic cutoff of bi-lateral military assistance.

From The Daily Beast

In the absence of a bi-lateral breakthrough, Israel should use the Arab Peace Initiative (API) to break the ice.

From The Daily Beast

One never sees lateral passing these days -- instead it's plunge or pass.

From The Daily Beast

But under pressure, many firms are giving up on organic growth and turning to a lateral-hire strategy in the downturn.

From The Daily Beast

The height of the tower from the level of the street is 105 feet, the slated towers over the lateral pediments being smaller.

From Project Gutenberg

While a person has the natural right also to the lateral support of his land, yet he cannot use it to the injury of another.

From Project Gutenberg

The owner of land adjoining a highway has no right to the lateral support of the soil of the street.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes these traps were weirs or by-washes, made of long lateral tanks of wicker-work.

From Project Gutenberg

The pillars are strengthened against lateral yielding by horizontal and diagonal bracing.

From Project Gutenberg