adjective

1. of, at, from, on, or toward the side; sideways lateral movement
2. articulated by partial blockage of the air passage with the tongue in such a way that breath escapes along one or both sides of the tongue
3. Bot. growing on the side of a stem or branch a lateral bud

Etymology: L lateralis < latus (gen. lateris), a side, prob. akin to latus, broad < IE *stlā-to- < base *stel-, to spread out > Arm lain, broad

noun

1. anything located, done, etc. to the side; lateral part, growth, branch, etc.
2. ☆ Football a short pass parallel to the goal line or in a slightly backward direction
   in full lateral pass
3. Mining a drift off to the side of and parallel to a main drift
4. Phonet. a lateral sound, as (l)

transitive verb, intransitive verb