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View synonyms for lateral

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈlaterally, adverb
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Other Words From

  • lat·er·al·ly adverb
  • pseu·do·lat·er·al adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of lateral1

C17: from Latin laterālis, from latus side
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Example Sentences

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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