LATERAL

lateral. Lateral, a. placed upon the side, passing sideways

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Lat″er‐al (?), a. [[L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf. F. latéral.]] 1. 1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.
2. 2. (Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; — opposed to mesial.
3. 3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing.
Lateral cleavage (Crystallog.), cleavage parallel to the lateral planes. — Lateral equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree. — 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.