Lat"er*al (?), 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.
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 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.