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

Lilian was given a lateral flow test on 18 September which was positive, then a second report said the same test had been registered in error - "please ignore", it said.

From BBC

In terms of average lateral deviation for spinners, these games were in the top quarter of matches where ball-tracking data is available, but not in the top sixth.

From BBC

Regulators like Sebi typically have political appointees and lateral hires from the private sector.

From BBC

In Grades IV and V, they perform tests at a walk, trot, cantor and do lateral work.

From BBC

Liquefaction can cause structures to tilt, or it can lead to a more dramatic phenomenon known as “lateral spreading” in which buildings on suddenly fluid soil slide down gentle slopes, such as toward river banks.

From Los Angeles Times