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Origin of lateral

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin laterālis “of the side,” equivalent to later- (stem of latus ) “side” + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM lateral

lat·er·al·ly, adverbpseu·do·lat·er·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lateral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lateral

lateral
/ (ˈlætərəl) /

adjective
of or relating to the side or sidesa lateral blow
phonetics (of a speech sound like l) pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the centre of the alveolar ridge, leaving space on one or both sides for the passage of the airstream
noun
a lateral object, part, passage, or movement
phonetics a lateral speech sound
botany a branch, leaf, or bud that grows out from the side of a stem or trunk

Derived forms of lateral

laterally, adverb

Word Origin for lateral

C17: from Latin laterālis, from latus side
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
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