bilateral

[ bahy-lat-er-uh l ]

/ baɪˈlæt ər əl /

adjective

pertaining to, involving, or affecting two or both sides, factions, parties, or the like: a bilateral agreement; bilateral sponsorship.

located on opposite sides of an axis; two-sided, especially when of equal size, value, etc.

Biology. pertaining to the right and left sides of a structure, plane, etc.

Chiefly Law. (of a contract) binding the parties to reciprocal obligations.

through both parents equally: bilateral affiliation.Compare unilateral(def 7).

noun

Informal. a bilateral agreement, especially regarding international trade.

Words nearby bilateral

bikol, bikram yoga, bilabial, bilabiate, bilander, bilateral, bilateral hermaphroditism, bilateral symmetry, bilateral trade, bilateralism, bilayer

Origin of bilateral

First recorded in 1765–75; bi-¹ + lateral

OTHER WORDS FROM bilateral

bi·lat·er·al·ism, bi·lat·er·al·ness, nounbi·lat·er·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bilaterally

These cells very probably have a bilaterally symmetrical origin.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume II (of 4)|Francis Maitland Balfour
His face was described as bilaterally asymmetrical, and various other signs of degeneration were described.
Martin Eden|Jack London
The head and most of the figure are bilaterally symmetrical.
The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley|Harlan Ingersoll Smith
Take care in this final stretching of the rug skin to get it alike on both sides, or, as the artists say, bilaterally symmetrical.
Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit|Albert B. Farnham

It is also uncertain whether the mesoblast is bilaterally symmetrical at the time of its origin.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume II (of 4)|Francis Maitland Balfour

British Dictionary definitions for bilaterally

bilateral

/ (baɪˈlætərəl) /

adjective

having or involving two sides

affecting or undertaken by two parties; mutuala bilateral treaty

denoting or relating to bilateral symmetry

having identical sides or parts on each side of an axis; symmetrical

sociol relating to descent through both maternal and paternal lineageCompare unilateral (def. 5)

British relating to an education that combines academic and technical courses

a bilateral meeting

Derived forms of bilateral

bilaterally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for bilaterally

bilateral

[ bī-lăt′ər-əl ]

adj.

Having or formed of two sides; two-sided.

Having or marked by bilateral symmetry.