a. [ Pref. bi- + lateral: cf. F. bilatéral. ] 1. Having two sides; arranged upon two sides; affecting two sides or two parties. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the two sides of a central area or organ, or of a central axis; as, bilateral symmetry in animals, where there is a similarity of parts on the right and left sides of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being bilateral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. collateralis; col- + lateralis lateral. See Lateral. ] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. “Collateral light.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Acting in an indirect way. [ 1913 Webster ]

If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give . . .
To you in satisfaction. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Related to, but not strictly a part of, the main thing or matter under consideration; hence, subordinate; not chief or principal; as, collateral interest; collateral issues. [ 1913 Webster ]

That he [ Attebury ] was altogether in the wrong on the main question, and on all the collateral questions springing out of it, . . . is true. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Tending toward the same conclusion or result as something else; additional; as, collateral evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet the attempt may give
Collateral interest to this homely tale. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Genealogy) Descending from the same stock or ancestor, but not in the same line or branch or one from the other; -- opposed to lineal. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Lineal descendants proceed one from another in a direct line; collateral relations spring from a common ancestor, but from different branches of that common stirps or stock. Thus the children of brothers are collateral relations, having different fathers, but a common grandfather. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Collateral assurance, that which is made, over and above the deed itself. --
Collateral circulation (Med. & Physiol.), circulation established through indirect or subordinate branches when the supply through the main vessel is obstructed. --
Collateral issue. (Law) (a) An issue taken upon a matter aside from the merits of the case. (b) An issue raised by a criminal convict who pleads any matter allowed by law in bar of execution, as pardon, diversity of person, etc. (c) A point raised, on cross-examination, aside from the issue fixed by the pleadings, as to which the answer of the witness, when given, cannot subsequently be contradicted by the party asking the question. --
Collateral security, security for the performance of covenants, or the payment of money, besides the principal security. --
collateral damage, (Mil.) damage caused by a military operation, such as a bombing, to objects or persons not themselves the intended target of the attack. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. 1. A collateral relative. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Collateral security; that which is pledged or deposited as collateral security. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. Side by side; by the side. [ 1913 Webster ]

These pulleys . . . placed collaterally. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In an indirect or subordinate manner; indirectly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The will hath force upon the conscience collaterally and indirectly. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In collateral relation; not lineally. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being collateral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aequilateralis; aequus equal + latus, lateris, side: cf. F. équilatéral. ] Having all the sides equal; as, an equilateral triangle; an equilateral polygon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Equilateral hyperbola (Geom.), one whose axes are equal. --
Equilateral shell (Zoöl.), one in which a transverse line drawn through the apex of the umbo bisects the valve, or divides it into two equal and symmetrical parts. --
Mutually equilateral, applied to two figures, when every side of the one has its equal among the sides of the other. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A side exactly corresponding, or equal, to others; also, a figure of equal sides. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having unequal sides; unsymmetrical; unequal-sided. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having the two ends unequal, as in the clam, quahaug, and most lamellibranch shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ L. latus, lateris, side + ad to. ] (Anat.) Toward the side; away from the mesial plane; -- opposed to mesiad. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side: cf. F. latéral. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; -- opposed to mesial. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Directed to the side; as, a lateral view of a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

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
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. (Football) To pass the footbal to a receiver who is behind the passer; to make a lateral pass; as, the ball was lateraled to the fullback, who ran it for a touchdown. [ PJC ]

n. The state or condition of being lateral. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Football) 1. A short pass to a receiver who is upfield from the passer, i.e. is behind the passer relative to the direction of the passer's goal. [ PJC ]

2. A part or extension of something that points sideways, as a drift in a mine that goes to the side from the main one. [ PJC ]

n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. longus long + lateralis lateral, fr. latus side. ] Having long sides; especially, having the form of a long parallelogram. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nineveh . . . was of a longilateral figure, ninety-five furlongs broad, and a hundred and fifty long. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Multi- + lateral. ] Having many sides; many-sided. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. quadrilaterus: cf. F. quadrilatère, quadrilatéral. See Quadri- and Lateral. ] Having four sides, and consequently four angles; quadrangular. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Geom.) A plane figure having four sides, and consequently four angles; a quadrangular figure; any figure formed by four lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An area defended by four fortresses supporting each other; as, the Venetian quadrilateral, comprising Mantua, Peschiera, Verona, and Legnano. [ 1913 Webster ]

Complete quadrilateral (Geom.), the figure made up of the six straight lines that can be drawn through four points, A, B, C, I, the lines being supposed to be produced indefinitely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The property of being quadrilateral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Septi- + lateral. ] Having seven sides; as, a septilateral figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.[ L. trilaterus; tri- (see Tri-) + latus, lateris, side: cf. F. trilatéral. See Lateral. ] (Geom.) Having three sides; being three-sided; as, a trilateral triangle. -- Tri*lat"er*al*ly, adv. -- Tri*lat"er*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Uni- + lateral: cf. F. unilatéral. ] 1. Being on one side only; affecting but one side; one-sided. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Pertaining to one side; one-sided; as, a unilateral raceme, in which the flowers grow only on one side of a common axis, or are all turned to one side. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unilateral contract (Law), a contract or engagement requiring future action only by one party. [ 1913 Webster ]