side (side)

noun

• 1a position to the left or right of an object, place, or central point: a town on the other side of the river on either side of the entrance was a garden Rona tilted her head to one side [in combination]: stream-side plants
• either of the two halves of an object, surface, or place regarded as divided by an imaginary central line: she lay on her side of the bed the left side of the brain
• the right or the left part of a person’s or animal’s body, especially of the human torso: he has been paralysed down his right side since birth
• either of the lateral halves of the body of a butchered animal, or of an animal or fish prepared for eating: a side of beef

• 2an upright or sloping surface of a structure or object that is not the top or bottom and generally not the front or back: a car crashed into the side of the house line the sides of the cake tin [as modifier]: a side entrance
• each of the flat surfaces of a solid object: cubes with a different decoration on each of the six sides
• either of the two surfaces of something flat and thin, such as paper: comments should not exceed one side of A4 paper the flysheet is silicone protected on both sides
• the amount of writing needed to fill one side of a sheet of paper: do not write more than three sides
• either of the two faces of a record or of the two separate tracks on a length of recording tape: the other side of the original 78 is free of any distortion put the tape on and listen to a whole side

• 3 (one's side) a place or position closely adjacent to someone: his wife stood at his side

• 4a part or region near the edge and away from the middle of something: a minibus was parked at the side of the road cottages on the south side of the green
• each of the lines forming the boundary of a plane rectilinear figure: the farm buildings formed three sides of a square

• 5a person or group opposing another or others in a dispute, contest, or debate: the two sides agreed to resume border trade whose side are you on?
• British a sports team: there was a mixture of old and young players in their side
• the position, interests, or attitude of one person or group, especially when regarded as being in opposition to another or others: Mrs Burt hasn’t kept her side of the bargain I would have loved to have heard his side of the argument

• 6a particular aspect of a situation or a person’s character: her ability to put up with his disagreeable side
• a person’s kinship or line of descent as traced through either their father or mother: Richard was of French descent on his mother’s side

• 7British informal a television channel considered as one of two or more that are available: what’s on the other side?

• 8 [as modifier] subsidiary to or less important than something: a side dish of fresh vegetables
• chiefly North American a dish served as subsidiary to the main one: sides of German potato salad and red cabbage

• 9 (also sidespin) [mass noun] horizontal spinning motion given to a ball.
• chiefly British spin given to the cue ball in snooker and billiards by hitting it on one side.

• 10 [mass noun, usually with negative] British informal boastful or pretentious manner or attitude: there was absolutely no side to him

• 11West Indian either of a pair of things: a pair of shoes, one side winged by a bullet

verb

• 1 [no object] (side with/against) support or oppose in a conflict, dispute, or debate: he felt that Max had betrayed him by siding with Beatrice

• 2 [with object] provide with a side or sides; form the side of: the hills that side a long valley