Situated at or extending to the side; pertaining to the side. adjective
The lateral branches of the tree spread out widely.
The lateral movement of the vehicle was caused by the strong wind.
A part or extension that is situated on the side of something. noun
The building has a lateral that houses additional office space.
The lateral of the structure was reinforced to improve stability.
In linguistics, a type of consonant sound produced by allowing the airstream to flow along the sides of the tongue. noun
The English 'l' sound in 'like' is a lateral consonant.
Lateral sounds are common in many languages around the world.
In sports, particularly in American football, a pass thrown to a player who is parallel to or behind the passer. noun
The quarterback made a lateral to the running back.
A lateral pass can be a risky play if not executed properly.