Lateral adj. 1.Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.
2.(Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; opposed to mesial.
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. (Obs.)
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 Lateral 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.
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