2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lateral  \Lat"er*al\,  a.  [L.  lateralis,  fr  latus,  lateris,  side: 
  cf  F.  lat['e]ral.] 
  1.  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  sides;  as  the  lateral  walls  of  a 
  house;  the  lateral  branches  of  a  tree. 
 
  2.  (Anat.)  Lying  at  or  extending  toward,  the  side  away  from 
  the  mesial  plane;  external;  --  opposed  to  {mesial}. 
 
  3.  Directed  to  the  side  as  a  lateral  view  of  a  thing 
 
  {Lateral  cleavage}  (Crystallog.),  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
  lateral  planes. 
 
  {Lateral  equation}  (Math.),  an  equation  of  the  first  degree. 
  [Obs.] 
 
  {Lateral  line}  (Anat.),  in  fishes,  a  line  of  sensory  organs 
  along  either  side  of  the  body,  often  marked  by  a  distinct 
  line  of  color. 
 
  {Lateral  pressure}  or  {stress}  (Mech.),  a  pressure  or  stress 
  at  right  angles  to  the  length,  as  of  a  beam  or  bridge;  -- 
  distinguished  from  longitudinal  pressure  or  stress. 
 
  {Lateral  strength}  (Mech.),  strength  which  resists  a  tendency 
  to  fracture  arising  from  lateral  pressure. 
 
  {Lateral  system}  (Bridge  Building),  the  system  of  horizontal 
  braces  (as  between  two  vertical  trusses)  by  which  lateral 
  stiffness  is  secured. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lateral 
  adj  1:  situated  at  or  extending  to  the  side  "the  lateral  branches 
  of  a  tree";  "shot  out  sidelong  boughs"-  Tennyson  [syn: 
  {sidelong}] 
  2:  lying  away  from  the  median  and  sagittal  plane  of  a  body; 
  "lateral  lemniscus" 
  n  :  a  pass  to  a  receiver  upfield  from  the  passer  [syn:  {lateral 
  pass}] 

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