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Lateral vs Perpendicular - What's the difference?

lateral | perpendicular |

As adjectives the difference between lateral and perpendicular

is that lateral is to the side; of or pertaining to the side while perpendicular is at or forming a right angle (to).

As nouns the difference between lateral and perpendicular

is that lateral is an object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else while perpendicular is a line or plane that is perpendicular to another.

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
  • perpendicular

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (geometry) At or forming a right angle (to).
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
  • , author=(Henry Petroski) , title=Opening Doors , volume=100, issue=2, page=112-3 , magazine= citation , passage=A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place. Applying a force tangential to the knob is essentially equivalent to applying one perpendicular to a radial line defining the lever.}}
    In most houses, the walls are perpendicular to the floor .

    Synonyms

    * evendown * normal * orthogonal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geometry) A line or plane that is perpendicular to another.
  • A device such as a plumb line that is used in making or marking a perpendicular line.