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Horizontal vs Lateral - What's the difference?

horizontal | lateral |

As adjectives the difference between lateral and horizontal

is that lateral is to the side; of or pertaining to the side while horizontal is perpendicular to the vertical; parallel to the plane of the horizon; level, flat.

As nouns the difference between lateral and horizontal

is that lateral is an object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else while horizontal is a horizontal component of a structure.

As a verb lateral

is to move (oneself or something) in a lateral direction.

horizontal

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • perpendicular to the vertical; parallel to the plane of the horizon; level, flat.
  • (marketing) Relating to horizontal markets.
  • (archaic) Pertaining to the horizon.
  • * 1667': As when the Sun new ris'n / Looks through the '''Horizontal misty Air — John Milton, ''Paradise Lost , Book 1, ll. 594-5
  • Antonyms

    * vertical

    Derived terms

    * horizontally

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A horizontal component of a structure.
  • (geology) horizon
  • lateral

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • To the side; of or pertaining to the side.
  • Instead of a promotion, I opted for a lateral move to a similar position in the marketing department.
  • (anatomy) Pertaining to the left or right of the body; further from the midline.
  • The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral .
    A fish senses changes in hydrodynamic pressure with its lateral line.
  • (linguistics) Pertaining to sounds generated by partially blocking the egress of the airstream with the tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, leaving space on one or both sides of the occlusion for air passage.
  • Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * (anatomy) medial * (geometric) longitudinal, vertical

    Derived terms

    * laterally

    Coordinate terms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • an object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else
  • (linguistics) a sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral )
  • (American football) a lateral pass
  • An employee hired for a position at the same organizational level or salary as their previous position.
  • See also

    * (lateral consonant)

    Verb

  • To move (oneself or something) in a lateral direction
  • (American football) To execute a lateral pass