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Lateral vs Latent - What's the difference?

lateral | latent |

As adjectives the difference between lateral and latent

is that lateral is to the side; of or pertaining to the side while latent is existing or present but concealed or inactive.

As a noun lateral

is an object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else.

As a verb lateral

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

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

    • Related terms

    * bilateral * trilateral * quadrilateral * collateral * unilateral

    External links

    * * ----

    latent

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Existing or present but concealed or inactive.
  • * 2008 July 2, Joe Palca, “Scientists Make Herpes Breakthrough”, abstract, All Things Considered , National Public Radio
    • Those infected with a herpes virus are infected for life. That’s because the virus goes "latent ." Sometimes, it awakes from its slumber, producing painful illnesses.

    Related terms

    * latency

    Synonyms

    *(concealed) hidden, invisible *(inactive) dormant

    Antonyms

    *(concealed) apparent, patent, visible

    Anagrams

    * * ----