lateral
    adj 1: situated at or extending to the side; "the lateral
           branches of a tree"; "shot out sidelong boughs"- Tennyson
           [syn: lateral, sidelong]
    2: lying away from the median and sagittal plane of a body;
       "lateral lemniscus"
    n 1: a pass to a receiver upfield from the passer [syn: lateral
         pass, lateral]

Lateral \Lat"er*al\, a. [L. lateralis, fr. latus, lateris, side:
   cf. F. lat['e]ral.]
   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] lateral

lateral \lat"er*al\, lateral pass \lat"er*al pass`\, 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]

lateral \lat"er*al\, 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]