Lateral (adjective)

1. Relating to or situated at the side; sideward.
2. Moving or directed sideways.
3. Involving or relating to the operation of transferring to another job within the same organization.
4. Having branches or divisions spreading out from a central stem, like the branches of a tree.

Origin:

From latin lateralis ("of or belonging to the side"), from latus ("side"). first recorded in english in the 16th century.

Examples:

1. The lateral movement of the vehicle caused it to skid off the road.
2. The player made a lateral pass to his teammate, who was running down the sideline.
3. He took a lateral move in his career, switching from marketing to sales.
4. The plant had several lateral branches that grew out from the main stem.
5. The lateral muscles in his back were sore from carrying the heavy load.