Lateral is a

geometric term of location {{unreferenced, date=March 2014 Geometric terms of location describe directions or positions relative to the shape of an object. These terms are used in descriptions of engineering, physics, and other sciences, as well as ordinary day to day discou ...

which may refer to:

Healthcare

Lateral (anatomy) Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

, an anatomical direction * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle * Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap

Phonetics

Lateral consonant A lateral is a consonant in which the airstream proceeds along one or both of the sides of the tongue, but it is blocked by the tongue from going through the middle of the mouth. An example of a lateral consonant is the English ''L'', as in ''La ...

, an l-like consonant in which air flows along the sides of the tongue ** Lateral release (phonetics), the release of a plosive consonant into a lateral consonant

Other uses

*''Lateral'', journal of the

Cultural Studies Association The Cultural Studies Association (CSA) was founded in 2003 and is a non-profit membership association for scientific purposes in the field and discipline of cultural studies. Located in Chicago, IL, USA, the CSA is headed by an executive committee ...

Lateral canal {{About, water canals, lateral extensions of root canals of a tooth, Root canal#Root canal system A lateral canal is a canal built along the same right-of-way as an existing stream. Water for the canal is usually provided by the original natural ...

, a canal built beside another stream *

Lateral hiring Recruitment is the overall process of identifying, sourcing, screening, shortlisting, and interviewing candidates for jobs (either permanent or temporary) within an organization. Recruitment also is the processes involved in choosing individua ...

, recruiting that targets employees of another organization *

Lateral mark A lateral buoy, lateral post or lateral mark, as defined by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel (geography), channel. Ea ...

, a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel * Lateral stability of aircraft during flight *

Lateral pass In gridiron football, a lateral pass or lateral (officially backward pass in American football and onside pass in Canadian football) occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to a teammate in a direction parallel to or away from the oppone ...

, a type of pass in American and Canadian football *

Lateral support (disambiguation) Lateral support may mean: * Lateral support, a type of support (structure) to help prevent sideways movement * Lateral and subjacent support, a legal term See also * Lateral (disambiguation) * Support (disambiguation) Support may refer to: Ar ...

, various meanings *

Lateral thinking Lateral thinking is a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative approach via reasoning that is not immediately obvious. It involves ideas that may not be obtainable using only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was first u ...

, the solution of problems through an indirect and creative approach *

Lateral number An imaginary number is a real number multiplied by the imaginary unit , is usually used in engineering contexts where has other meanings (such as electrical current) which is defined by its property . The square of an imaginary number is . Fo ...

, a proposed alternate term for

imaginary number An imaginary number is a real number multiplied by the imaginary unit , is usually used in engineering contexts where has other meanings (such as electrical current) which is defined by its property . The square of an imaginary number is . Fo ...