side

/saɪd/ noun [C]

Definition

PART OF SOMETHING › one of the two parts that something would divide into if you drew a line down the middle: In most countries people drive on the right side of the road. Which side of the bed do you sleep on? They were on the other side of the room.

SURFACE › a flat, outer surface of an object, especially one that is not its top, bottom, front, or back: The ingredients are listed on the side of the box. The side of the car was badly scratched.

EDGE › one edge of something: A square has four sides. There were chairs round the sides of the room.

NEXT TO SOMETHING › the area next to something: trees growing by the side of the road There were flowers in pots on either side of the front door.

PAPER/COIN ETC › either of the two surfaces of a thin, flat object such as a piece of paper or a coin: Write on both sides of the paper.

ARGUMENT › one of the people or groups who are arguing, fighting, or competing: Whose side is he on? Whenever we argue he always takes Alice's side (= gives support to Alice).

TEAM UK › the players in a sports team: He's been selected for the national side.

PART OF A SITUATION › part of a situation that can be considered or dealt with separately: She looks after the financial side of things.

CHARACTER › a part of someone's character: She has a very practical side.

BODY › the two areas of your body from under your arms to the tops of your legs: Stand with your arms by your sides. She lay on her side.

STORY › Someone's side of a story is the way in which they explain how something happened: I thought I'd better listen to Clare's side of the story. So far they'd only heard the story from the wife's side.

TELEVISION/RADIO UK › a number on a television or radio that you can choose in order to receive a broadcast: Which side is the film on?

from side to side › If something moves from side to side, it moves from left to right and back again repeatedly: swinging from side to side

side by side › If two things or people are side by side, they are next to each other: sitting side by side on the sofa Alex laid them down side by side on the table.

RELATIVES › the part of your family who are either your mother's relatives or your father's relatives: They tend to be tall on my mother's side of the family.

→ See also the flip side

(Definition of side noun from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)