lateral
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: laterals · lateraling · lateralling · lateraled
Sense 1
To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.
Adjective
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Affecting the side or sides of the body, or confined to one side of the body.
Adjective
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
An object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 4
A sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral).
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “lateral” mean?
To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.
Is “lateral” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.