Lateral Meaning
/ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjTo the side; of or pertaining to the side.
adjTo the side; of or pertaining to the side., Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.
Sentence Examples
Dr. Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis while at Oxford.
The lateral malleolus is the bone on the outside of the ankle joint.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cat made a ____ move to the left to avoid the obstacle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ movement of the tectonic plates can cause powerful earthquakes to occur along the fault line today.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” actor announced on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease."
— 2025 April 10, Dan Heching, “Eric Dane shares that he has been diagnosed with ALS”, in CNN:
"Two-thirds of the drownings, or 103, occurred along the back of the canal or lateral. […] 4 drownings per year occurred in reaches of canals or laterals protected by fencing."
— 1971, Howard S. Latham, James M. Verzuh, Reducing Hazards to People and Animals on Reclamation ..., page 7:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The cat made a ____ move to the left to avoid the obstacle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ movement of the tectonic plates can cause powerful earthquakes to occur along the fault line today.