of or pertaining to the side; situated at, proceeding from, or directed to a side: a lateral view.
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.
articulated so that the breath passes on either or both sides of the tongue, as l.
—n.
a lateral part or extension, as a branch or shoot.
a small drift off to the side of a principal one.
a lateral speech sound.
See
—v.i.
to throw a lateral pass.
to move laterally or sideways: migrating birds lateraling down into Cape May.