Lateral vs. Horizontal: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Lateral refers to the side or movement toward the side, while horizontal denotes a flat, level plane parallel to the ground or baseline.
Key Differences
Lateral is primarily concerned with the sides of an object or movement towards the sides, suggesting a direction perpendicular to the main axis. Horizontal, however, describes a flat and level orientation parallel to the ground, emphasizing alignment with the horizon.
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Nov 28, 2023
In anatomy, lateral refers to structures away from the body's midline, while in sports or movement, it indicates sideways motion. Horizontal is used in physics and engineering to denote a plane or direction that is level and even, often perpendicular to the vertical.
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Lateral can refer to positions or movements that are not necessarily parallel to the ground but are oriented towards the sides. Horizontal implies a plane or direction that maintains a consistent distance from the ground or baseline, emphasizing flatness or evenness.
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Lateral movement often implies shifting from one side to another, such as in lateral thinking or lateral career moves, which involve a change in direction. Horizontal suggests stability and uniformity, as seen in horizontal lines in art or horizontal organizational structures in business, which emphasize equality and even distribution.
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Lateral is often contrasted with medial in anatomical terms, whereas horizontal is commonly juxtaposed with vertical, offering a clear distinction in terms of orientation and alignment in relation to the Earth's surface or a reference point.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to the side or movement toward the side
Flat and level, parallel to the ground
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Orientation
Side-oriented, perpendicular to main axis
Level and even, parallel to horizon
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Usage in Fields
Anatomical side position, sideways motion
Physics and engineering for level planes
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Spatial Relationship
Sides, not necessarily parallel to ground
Consistent distance from ground, emphasizing flatness
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Lateral and Horizontal Definitions
Lateral
Pertaining to the side.
The lateral branches of the tree extended over the fence.
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Horizontal
Level or flat.
The carpenter used a level to ensure the shelf was perfectly horizontal.
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Lateral
In linguistics, a sound produced by allowing the air to flow around the sides of the tongue.
The 'l' sound in 'light' is an example of a lateral consonant.
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Horizontal
Operating or extending in the same plane.
The horizontal reach of the crane was sufficient for the construction project.
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Lateral
Away from the midline of the body.
The lateral muscles of the torso are important for stability.
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Horizontal
Parallel to the plane of the horizon; at right angles to the vertical.
The horizontal lines on the paper helped guide her writing.
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Lateral
Relating to a position or movement sideways.
The lateral expansion of the company included new branches in different cities.
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Horizontal
Spread out or placed at the same level.
The company's horizontal structure promoted collaboration among departments.
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Horizontal
Lying down or in a resting position.
He preferred to read the book in a horizontal position on the sofa.
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Lateral
Of or constituting a change within an organization or hierarchy to a position at a similar level, as in salary or responsibility, to the one being left
Made a lateral move within the company.
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Lateral
(Linguistics) Of, relating to, or being a sound produced by breath passing along one or both sides of the tongue.
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Horizontal
Occupying or restricted to the same level in a hierarchy
A horizontal study of verbal ability.
A horizontal transfer by an employee.
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Horizontal
(Medicine) Of or relating to transmission of infection by contact with or physical proximity to an infected individual or fomite.
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Horizontal
Something, such as a line, plane, or object, that is horizontal.
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Horizontal
Perpendicular to the vertical; parallel to the plane of the horizon; level, flat.
Horizontal lines
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Lateral
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.
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Lateral
Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.
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.
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Lateral
(disease) Affecting the side or sides of the body, or confined to one side of the body.
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Horizontal
(wine) Involving wines of the same vintages but from different wineries.
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Lateral
(physics) Acting or placed at right angles to a line of motion or strain.
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Lateral
Pertaining to speech sounds generated by partially blocking the egress of the airstream with the tongue, leaving space on one or both sides of the occlusion for air passage.
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Lateral
An object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else.
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Lateral
(linguistics) A sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral).
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Horizontal
A Tasmanian shrub or small tree whose main trunk tends to lean over and grow horizontally, Anodopetalum biglandulosum
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Lateral
(business) An employee hired for a position at the same organizational level or salary as their previous position.
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Horizontal
Parallel to the horizon; on a level; as, a horizontalline or surface.
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Horizontal
Measured or contained in a plane of the horizon; as, horizontal distance.
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Lateral
Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.
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Horizontal
Parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line;
A horizontal surface
A vertical camera angle
The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab
Measure the perpendicular height
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Lateral
Lying at, or extending toward, the side; away from the mesial plane; external; - opposed to mesial.
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Lateral
A short pass to a receiver who is upfield from the passer, i.e. is behind the passer relative to the direction of the passer's goal.
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Lateral
A part or extension of something that points sideways, as a drift in a mine that goes to the side from the main one.
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Lateral
To pass the footbal to a receiver who is behind the passer; to make a lateral pass; as, the ball was lateraled to the fullback, who ran it for a touchdown.
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Lateral
Situated at or extending to the side;
The lateral branches of a tree
Shot out sidelong boughs
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Lateral
Lying away from the median and sagittal plane of a body;
Lateral lemniscus
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Lateral
Moving or directed toward the side.
The athlete made a quick lateral move during the game.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does lateral mean?
Lateral refers to the side or movement towards the side.
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Nov 28, 2023
What is the definition of horizontal?
Horizontal means being parallel to the ground or horizon.
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What is a lateral decision in business?
A lateral decision involves a side-step or change in direction, not necessarily upward.
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Can lateral be used to describe movement?
Yes, lateral often describes sideways movement or change.
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Are horizontal lines always straight?
Yes, horizontal lines are straight and run parallel to the horizon.
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Can lateral refer to anatomical positions?
Yes, in anatomy, lateral refers to positions away from the body's midline.
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Do architects use horizontal lines?
Yes, architects often use horizontal lines to convey stability and balance.
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What does a horizontal structure in business mean?
It refers to an organizational structure with less hierarchy and more equality among roles.
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Does horizontal imply equality in organizations?
Yes, a horizontal organization suggests equal status and collaborative work environments.
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Are lateral skills important in the workplace?
Yes, lateral skills such as adaptability and cross-functional knowledge are valuable.
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Can horizontal communication improve workplace efficiency?
Yes, horizontal communication promotes faster information flow and collaboration.
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Is lateral movement common in sports?
Yes, lateral movements are essential in many sports for agility and positioning.
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Is lateral expansion common in business?
Yes, lateral expansion involves growing in different areas or locations rather than scaling up.
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Can horizontal be used in art?
Yes, artists use horizontal lines to create a sense of calm and stability.
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Are lateral movements always side-to-side?
Generally, yes, lateral implies side-to-side movement or orientation.
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What is a lateral career move?
A lateral career move is a change in job role at the same level, not an upward promotion.
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Does horizontal growth refer to company expansion?
Horizontal growth typically means expanding operations or products at the same level.
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Can lateral thinking be beneficial?
Yes, lateral thinking promotes creativity and alternative problem-solving approaches.
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How is horizontal alignment important in design?
Horizontal alignment helps create balance and visual harmony in design.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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