/ saɪd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
LEFT / RIGHT
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] either of the two halves of a surface, an object or an area that is divided by an imaginary central line :
They drive on the left-hand side of the road in Japan.
the right side of the brain
satellite links to the other side of the world
She was on the far side of the room.
They crossed from one side of London to the other.
Keep on your side of the bed!
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] a position or an area to the left or right of sth :
There is a large window on either side of the front door.
He crossed the bridge to the other side of the river.
people on both sides of the Atlantic
She tilted her head to one side .
NOT TOP OR BOTTOM
3.
[ C ] one of the flat surfaces of sth that is not the top or bottom, front or back :
Write your name on the side of the box.
There's a scratch on the side of my car.
The kitchen door is at the side of the house.
a side door / entrance / window
Now lay the jar on its side.
4.
[ C ] the vertical or sloping surface around sth, but not the top or bottom of it :
A path went up the side of the hill.
Brush the sides of the tin with butter.
—see also hillside , mountainside
EDGE
5.
[ C ] a part or an area of sth near the edge and away from the middle :
She sat on the side of the bed.
A van was parked at the side of the road.
the south side of the lake
—see also bedside , fireside , ringside , riverside , roadside , seaside
OF BODY
6.
[ C , usually sing. ] either the right or left part of a person's body, from the armpit (= where the arm joins the body) to the hip :
She has a pain down her right side.
He was lying on his side.
NEAR TO SB / STH
7.
[ sing. ] a place or position very near to sb/sth :
Keep close to my side.
Her husband stood at her side.
OF STH FLAT AND THIN
8.
[ C ] either of two surfaces of sth flat and thin, such as paper or cloth :
Write on one side of the paper only.
Fry the steaks for two minutes on each side.
PAGE
9.
[ C ] the amount of writing needed to fill one side of a sheet of paper :
He told us not to write more than three sides.
MATHEMATICS
10.
[ C ] any of the flat surfaces of a solid object :
A cube has six sides.
11.
[ C ] any of the lines that form a flat shape such as a square or triangle :
a shape with five sides
The farm buildings form three sides of a square.
-SIDED
12.
used in adjectives to state the number or type of sides :
a six-sided object
a glass-sided container
IN WAR / ARGUMENT
13.
[ C ] one of the two or more people or groups taking part in an argument, war, etc. :
We have finally reached an agreement acceptable to all sides.
At some point during the war he seems to have changed sides .
to be on the winning / losing side
14.
[ C ] one of the opinions, attitudes or positions held by sb in an argument, a business arrangement, etc. :
We heard both sides of the argument .
I just want you to hear my side of the story first.
Will you keep your side of the bargain ?
ASPECT
15.
[ C ] a particular aspect of sth, especially a situation or a person's character :
These poems reveal her gentle side.
This is a side of Alan that I never knew existed.
It's good you can see the funny side of the situation.
I'll take care of that side of things.
FEELING THAT YOU ARE BETTER
16.
[ U ] ( BrE , informal ) a feeling that you are better than other people :
There was no side to him at all.
SPORTS TEAM
17.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a sports team :
The French have a very strong side.
We were on the winning / losing side .
OF FAMILY
18.
[ C ] the part of your family that people belong to who are related either to your mother or to your father :
a cousin on my father's side (= a child of my father's brother or sister)
MEAT
19.
[ C ] a ~ of beef / bacon, etc. one of the two halves of an animal that has been killed for meat
TV CHANNEL
20.
[ C ] ( old-fashioned , BrE , informal ) a television channel :
What's on the other side?
•
IDIOMS
- come down on one side of the fence or the other
- from side to side
- get on the right / wrong side of sb
- have sth on your side
- let the side down
- not leave sb's side
- on / from all sides | on / from every side
- on the big, small, high, etc. side
- on the other side of the fence
- on the right / wrong side of 40, 50, etc.
- on the side
- on / to one side
- be on sb's side
- the other side of the coin
- side by side
- take sides
- take / draw sb to one side
- this side of ...
—more at bed noun , bit , bright adjective , credit noun , distaff , err , grass noun , know verb , laugh verb , right adjective , safe adjective , split verb , thorn , time noun , two , wrong adjective
■ verb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- side with sb (against sb/sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English sīde left or right part of the body , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zijde and German Seite , probably from a base meaning extending lengthways.