Lateral Meaning and Definition

Word: Lateral

How to pronounce: ˈlætərəl

Adjective

Definitions:

1. Of, at, toward, or from the side or sides.

Example sentences: "The plant takes up water through its lateral roots"

Noun

Definitions:

1. A side part of something, especially a shoot or branch growing out from the side of a stem.

Example sentences: "Cut back all the laterals to within two buds of the main stem"

2. A lateral consonant.

Example sentences: "Obstruent laterals, which are mainly found in indigenous languages of North America, are sometimes thought of as liquids but do not have their high sonority."

3. A pass thrown either sideways or backward from the position of the passer.

Example sentences: "After taking a lateral from White, Butler scored and jumped head-first into the front row of the endzone seats."

Transitive verb

Definitions:

1. Throw (a football) in a sideways or backward direction.

Example sentences: "He tried to lateral a kick return but fumbled"

Synonyms:

side

flank

transverse

transversal

longitudinal

horizontal

sidelong

crosswise

Antonyms:

cross

Derivations:

laterally

Lateral in Other Languages...

Spanish: Lateral

German: Seitlich

French: Latéral

Italian: Laterale

Turkish: Yan