Laterale

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Characterized by a position or movement away from the center or primary axis; relating to or situated at the side of something; having or involving two or more sides in geometry or anatomy
2. Pertaining to being side-oriented or peripheral in nature; associated with the lateral aspects of objects or structures; involving a formation or aspect that includes multiple sides
3. Denoting elements that are directed toward the sides rather than the front or back; describing anatomical structures that extend outward from the central axis; relating to features or movements that occur on horizontal planes

Etymology: Latin "latus," meaning "side" or "flank," is the root behind this word. From it Latin speakers formed "lateralis," an adjective meaning "of the side." The form "laterale" is its neuter variant, agreeing with neuter nouns. The same root appears in "latitude," which originally meant breadth, or width measured from side to side. The sense of "side" was later used in scientific description, where anatomists needed precise terms for directions away from the body's midline. "Bilateral," with "bi-" meaning "two," describes a structure with two matching sides. The root also gave us "lateral thinking," a phrase coined by Edward de Bono for approaching problems obliquely rather than in a straight line.

Synonyms: lateral, side, sideways

Antonyms: medial, central