lateral

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlætəɹəl/ UK /ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #18708

Meanings

1

adj
lying away from the median and sagittal plane of a body

Lateral lemniscus.
2

adj
situated at or extending to the side

The lateral branches of a tree.
3

adj
To the side; of or pertaining to the side.

The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral.
4

noun
A lateral canal, a canal built alongside an existing stream.

[…] Canal and laterals, section 4, and the first part of section 5; and Miller Canal and laterals.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · situated at or extending to... sidelong

Opposites

longitudinal vertical

Word family

Derived forms acousticolateralambilateralanterodorsolateralanterolateralapicolateralaxiolateralbasilateralbasolateralbilateralcaudolateralcentrolateralcollateral

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

lateral ventricle
one of the two large fluid-filled cavities in the brain's hemispheres

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Lateral entered English in the late Middle English period from Latin lateralis, associated with the side or breadth. It consequently means “at or directed toward the side.”

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# lateral

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlætəɹəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/
**Frequency rank:** 18708

## Meanings
1. lying away from the median and sagittal plane of a body
2. situated at or extending to the side
3. To the side; of or pertaining to the side.
4. A lateral canal, a canal built alongside an existing stream.

## Examples
- Lateral lemniscus.
- The lateral branches of a tree.
- The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral.
- […] Canal and laterals, section 4, and the first part of section 5; and Miller Canal and laterals.

## Antonyms
- longitudinal
- vertical

## Derived Forms
- acousticolateral
- ambilateral
- anterodorsolateral
- anterolateral
- apicolateral
- axiolateral
- basilateral
- basolateral
- bilateral
- caudolateral
- centrolateral
- collateral

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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