side
1one of the surfaces forming the outside of or bounding a thing, or one of the lines bounding a geometric figure: Each side of the garden is two meters long.
either of the two broad surfaces of a thin, flat object, as a door, a piece of paper, etc.: Be sure to check that both sides of your test paper are filled out before you turn it in.
one of the lateral surfaces of an object, as opposed to the front, back, top, and bottom: My shopping cart got away from me, and now there's a big scratch on the side of that car.
either of the two lateral parts or areas of a thing: Your heart is divided into two separate pumping systems, the right side and the left side.
either lateral half of the body, especially of the trunk, of a human or animal: I've got a stitch in my side.
the dressed, lengthwise half of an animal's body, as of beef or pork, used for food: The restaurant buys their sides of lamb from a local butcher.
an aspect or phase, especially as contrasted with another aspect or phase: We haven't had time to consider all sides of the problem.
region, direction, or position with reference to a central line, space, or point: The best coffee shops are all on the east side of the city.
a slope, as of a hill: We hiked about halfway up the side of the mountain.
one of two or more contesting teams, groups, parties, etc.: Our side won the baseball game.
the position, course, or part of a person or group opposing another: I am on your side in this issue.
line of descent through either the father or the mother: grandparents on one's maternal side.
the space immediately adjacent to something or someone indicated: Stand at my side.
Informal. a side dish, as in a restaurant: I'll have a burger and a side of French fries.
Usually sides .Theater.
pages of a script containing only the lines and cues of a specific role to be learned by a performer.
the lines of the role.
Nautical. the hull portion that is normally out of the water, located between the stem and stern to port or starboard.
Slang. a person, usually a gay man, who does not have or does not prioritize penetrative sex.: See also outercourse.
Billiards. English (def. 9).
either of the two surfaces of a phonograph record, or the audio recorded on it.
either of two audio tracks or pairs of audio tracks on a length of magnetic tape: We played Side A of their greatest hits until Mom threatened to burn the cassette tape.
Chiefly British Slang.
affected manner; pretension; assumed haughtiness: to put on side.
impudence; gall: He has a lot of side.
being at or on one side:The usher wound his way down the side aisle of the theater.
coming from or directed toward one side: Although it was a side blow, it knocked her off her feet.
subordinate or incidental: It's time we stop treating childcare as a side issue.
side with / against to favor or support or refuse to support one group, opinion, etc., against opposition; take sides, as in a dispute: He always sides with the underdog.
Idioms about side
on the side, Informal.
separate from the main issue or point of interest.
in addition to one's regular or known work, interest, relationships, etc.: She tried selling cosmetics on the side. He dates another girl on the side.
as a side dish: a hamburger with French fries on the side.
on the adjective side, rather more than less; tending toward (the quality or condition specified): This cake is a little on the sweet side.
side by side,
next to one another; together.
closely associated or related; in proximity: It is now a divided city in which democracy and communism must live side by side.
take sides, to give one's support to one person or group in a dispute; be partial to one side: We were careful not to take sides for fear of getting personally involved.
the far side, the farther or opposite side: the far side of the moon.
Origin of side
1Other words for side
Other words from side
- side·less, adjective
Words that may be confused with side
- side , sighed
Other definitions for side (2 of 2)
(especially of a woman's dress or a man's beard) long and loose-flowing.
Origin of side
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use side in a sentence
And he is a Chicago South Sider, which is also where I come from.
Novelist Julie Otsuka is an Upper West Sider, with a regular spot at her neighborhood café, the Hungarian Pastry Shop.
His speech was the elaborated and painfully emphasized English of the self-taught East Sider.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. CobbThat, sider brandee taken inwardly in large quantitys iz good—for a rat hole.
Josh Billings, Hiz Sayings | Henry Wheeler ShawThe east-sider thinks his hang-outs and dives are the best, and the west-sider thinks the same of his.
Tramping with Tramps | Josiah Flynt
She'll 'sider it a 'ticular favor ef de gemmen'll leff Mulock gwo.'
Wood calls Downing a sider with all times and changes; skilled in the common cant, and a preacher occasionally.
British Dictionary definitions for side
/ (saɪd) /
a line or surface that borders anything
geometry
any line segment forming part of the perimeter of a plane geometric figure
another name for face (def. 13)
either of two parts into which an object, surface, area, etc, can be divided, esp by a line, median, space, etc: the right side and the left side Related adjective: lateral
either of the two surfaces of a flat object: the right and wrong side of the cloth
a surface or part of an object that extends vertically: the side of a cliff
either half of a human or animal body, esp the area around the waist, as divided by the median plane: I have a pain in my side
the area immediately next to a person or thing: he stood at her side
a district, point, or direction within an area identified by reference to a central point: the south side of the city
the area at the edge of a room, road, etc, as distinguished from the middle
aspect or part: look on the bright side; his cruel side
one of two or more contesting factions, teams, etc
a page in an essay, book, etc
a position, opinion, etc, held in opposition to another in a dispute
line of descent: he gets his brains from his mother's side
informal a television channel
billiards snooker spin imparted to a ball by striking it off-centre with the cue: US and Canadian equivalent: English
British slang insolence, arrogance, or pretentiousness: to put on side
on one side set apart from the rest, as provision for emergencies, etc, or to avoid muddling
on the heavy side tending to be too heavy
on the side
apart from or in addition to the main object
as a sideline
US as a side dish
bit on the side See bit 1 (def. 11)
side by side
close together
(foll by with) beside or near to
take sides to support one group, opinion, etc, as against another
being on one side; lateral
from or viewed as if from one side
directed towards one side
not main; subordinate or incidental: side door; side road
(intr usually foll by with) to support or associate oneself with a faction, interest, etc
(tr) to provide with siding or sides
(tr; often foll by away or up) Northern English dialect to tidy up or clear (dishes, a table, etc)
Origin of side
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with side
In addition to the idioms beginning with side
- side against
- side by side
- side of the tracks
- side street
- side with
also see:
- blind spot (side)
- bright side
- can't hit the broad side of a barn
- choose up (sides)
- get on someone's good side
- get up on the wrong side of bed
- in good with (on someone's good side)
- know which side of bread is buttered
- laugh out of the other side of one's mouth
- let someone (the side) down
- on someone's side
- on the safe side
- on the side
- on the side of the angels
- other side of the coin
- right side of the tracks
- right-side out
- right-side up
- seamy side
- split one's sides
- sunny-side up
- take aside (to one side)
- take sides
- this side of
- thorn in one's flesh (side)
- work both sides of the street
- wrong side of
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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