lateral

/ˈlætərəl/
noun
  1. A side part or projection, especially a branch or shoot growing from the side of a plant or a side pass in sports.
    • In football, a lateral is a pass thrown sideways or backward.
    • The gardener pruned the laterals to encourage upward growth.
    • The tree's laterals were heavy with fruit.
adjective
  1. Relating to the side or sides of something.
    • The lateral edges of the box were reinforced with tape.
    • He suffered a lateral ankle sprain during the game.
    • The plant's lateral branches spread out from the main stem.
  2. Involving movement or direction to the side.
    • Lateral exercises help strengthen the muscles on the sides of your body.
    • The drone can perform lateral shifts while hovering.
    • The car made a sudden lateral move to avoid the pothole.
  3. Relating to a sideways position in an organization, especially a move to a different job at the same level.
    • He is looking for a lateral position in a different company.
    • She took a lateral transfer to another department.
    • A lateral move can offer new challenges without a promotion.
Synonyms
What does "lateral" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean