Laterally

Laterally describes movement, position, or direction from or towards the side. It signifies a deviation from a central axis or a movement alongside something, rather than directly forward or backward. It can apply to physical objects, anatomical structures, or abstract concepts, indicating a relationship defined by adjacency or parallelism. The term emphasizes a side-to-side orientation or approach, contrasting with a front-to-back or up-and-down perspective. Understanding 'laterally' helps clarify spatial relationships and movement patterns in various fields, from biology to engineering.

Laterally meaning with examples

• During the experiment, the researchers observed the fish swimming laterally, moving from one side of the tank to the other. The focus was to see how they navigated, the opposite of vertically or straight ahead. This behavior suggested the impact of environmental changes to their surroundings and provided valuable data on the fish’s reactions.
• The architect decided to extend the building laterally to accommodate the growing needs of the company. They were looking at widening the building, rather than increasing its height or depth. This expansion strategy allowed for more floor space, creating additional offices and meeting rooms, while preserving the building's existing foundation.
• In ballet, dancers are taught to move laterally during certain sequences to create a sense of grace and balance. The movement allows for a range of new possibilities to create more elaborate and complex movements and the placement of the dancers to show patterns.
• When designing the highway, the engineers had to account for the expansion of the road laterally to accommodate the increase in traffic. The goal was to widen the road and improve the ability for it to accommodate the cars, which was chosen over expanding it upwards or downwards.