Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Lateral
Lat′er-al
,Adj.
[L.
lateralis
, fr. latus
, lateris
, side: cf. F. latéral
.] 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 thingLateral 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Lateral
LAT'ERAL
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to the side; as the lateral view of an object.2.
Proceeding from the side; as the lateral branches of a tree; lateral shoots.