side

1
[ sahyd ]
See synonyms for: sidesidedsidessiding on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. one 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.

  2. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. either lateral half of the body, especially of the trunk, of a human or animal: I've got a stitch in my side.

  4. 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.

  5. an aspect or phase, especially as contrasted with another aspect or phase: We haven't had time to consider all sides of the problem.

  6. 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.

  7. a slope, as of a hill: We hiked about halfway up the side of the mountain.

  8. one of two or more contesting teams, groups, parties, etc.: Our side won the baseball game.

  9. the position, course, or part of a person or group opposing another: I am on your side in this issue.

  10. line of descent through either the father or the mother: grandparents on one's maternal side.

  11. the space immediately adjacent to something or someone indicated: Stand at my side.

  12. Informal. a side dish, as in a restaurant: I'll have a burger and a side of French fries.

  13. 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.

  14. Nautical. the hull portion that is normally out of the water, located between the stem and stern to port or starboard.

  15. Slang. a person, usually a gay man, who does not have or does not prioritize penetrative sex.: See also outercourse.

  16. 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.

  17. Chiefly British Slang.

    • affected manner; pretension; assumed haughtiness: to put on side.

    • impudence; gall: He has a lot of side.

adjective
  1. being at or on one side: The usher wound his way down the side aisle of the theater.

  2. coming from or directed toward one side: Although it was a side blow, it knocked her off her feet.

  1. subordinate or incidental: It's time we stop treating childcare as a side issue.

Verb Phrasespast and past participle sid·ed,present participle sid·ing.
  1. 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

  1. 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.

  2. on the adjective side, rather more than less; tending toward (the quality or condition specified): This cake is a little on the sweet side.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. the far side, the farther or opposite side: the far side of the moon.

Origin of side

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sid(e), siede, Old English sīde; cognate with Dutch zijde, German Seite, Old Norse sītha

Other words for side

Other words from side

  • side·less, adjective

Words that may be confused with side

Words Nearby side

Other definitions for side (2 of 2)

side2
[ sahyd ]

adjectiveScot. and North England.
  1. (especially of a woman's dress or a man's beard) long and loose-flowing.

Origin of side

2
First recorded before 900; Middle English sid(e) “long, stretched, broad,” Old English sīd “wide, broad, ample, extending lengthwise”; cognate with Old Norse sīthr “long, hanging down,” Low German sied “low”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use side in a sentence

  • She skilfully manages the side-lights, and by this means produces strong effects.

  • This city stands upon almost two equal parts on each side the river that passes through.

    Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift
  • This is one of the most striking manifestations of the better side of child-nature and deserves a chapter to itself.

    Children's Ways | James Sully
  • When the women came, he was preparing to go to the west side for his daily visit with Mrs. Pruitt.

    The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
  • Her heart fluttered violently with fear as she saw that he stepped out after her, and walked by her side toward the house.

    Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

British Dictionary definitions for side

side

/ (saɪd) /


noun
  1. a line or surface that borders anything

  2. geometry

    • any line segment forming part of the perimeter of a plane geometric figure

    • another name for face (def. 13)

  1. 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

  2. either of the two surfaces of a flat object: the right and wrong side of the cloth

  3. a surface or part of an object that extends vertically: the side of a cliff

  4. 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

  5. the area immediately next to a person or thing: he stood at her side

  6. a district, point, or direction within an area identified by reference to a central point: the south side of the city

  7. the area at the edge of a room, road, etc, as distinguished from the middle

  8. aspect or part: look on the bright side; his cruel side

  9. one of two or more contesting factions, teams, etc

  10. a page in an essay, book, etc

  11. a position, opinion, etc, held in opposition to another in a dispute

  12. line of descent: he gets his brains from his mother's side

  13. informal a television channel

  14. billiards snooker spin imparted to a ball by striking it off-centre with the cue: US and Canadian equivalent: English

  15. British slang insolence, arrogance, or pretentiousness: to put on side

  16. on one side set apart from the rest, as provision for emergencies, etc, or to avoid muddling

  17. on the heavy side tending to be too heavy

  18. 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)

  19. side by side

    • close together

    • (foll by with) beside or near to

  20. take sides to support one group, opinion, etc, as against another

adjective
  1. being on one side; lateral

  2. from or viewed as if from one side

  1. directed towards one side

  2. not main; subordinate or incidental: side door; side road

verb
  1. (intr usually foll by with) to support or associate oneself with a faction, interest, etc

  2. (tr) to provide with siding or sides

  1. (tr; often foll by away or up) Northern English dialect to tidy up or clear (dishes, a table, etc)

Origin of side

1
Old English sīde; related to sīd wide, Old Norse sītha side, Old High German sīta

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with side

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.