side

I UK [saɪd] / US noun
Word forms "side":
singular side plural sides
***

1)

a) [countable] a particular area of something such as a building, street, or town

side of:

The railway ran along the north side of the valley.

The bride's guests should sit on the left side of the church.

the far side:

I parked on the far side of the yard.

right-hand/left-hand side:

Americans drive on the right-hand side of the road.

north/south side:

They live on the north side of town.

b) one of the areas that are separated from each other by something such as a border or a river

villages on the Thai side of the border

The boat had drifted to the other side of the river.

The policy has been condemned by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.

Groceries are cheaper on the American side so Canadians often shop there.

2) [countable] an outside surface of an object or shape that is not its front, back, bottom, or top

The ship was found lying on its side.

side of:

The entrance is on the side of the building.

a) an inside surface of a container or room that is not the top or bottom

side of:

Lift the cake gently away from the sides of the dish.

There were tables all along the sides of the hall.

b) either of the flat surfaces of something thin such as a piece of paper or a coin

Use the lined side of the paper.

I turned the coin over and looked at the other side.

c) the part of a hill that slopes and is between the top and the bottom

d) a flat surface of a solid object such as a cube or pyramid

A cube has six sides.

e) any of the edges of a flat shape

A square has four sides.

f) the edge of a boat

The sailors just throw their rubbish over the side.

g) the left or right part of something

side of:

The left side of your jacket's all dirty.

One side of their van was crushed.

right-hand/left-hand side:

Put a margin down the right-hand side of the page.

h) the left or right area of your body from your head to your feet

Roll onto your side.

by someone's side:

I stood nervously by his side as they approached.

to someone's side:

Her little boy ran to her side and took her hand.

i) the general area of your body from your shoulder down to your waist

by someone's sides:

His arms hung limply by his sides.

right/left side:

I had a sharp pain in my right side.

j) someone's good or best side is the side of their face that they think looks more attractive

k) one half of the body of a cow, pig, or other large animal, used as food

side of:

a side of beef

3) [countable] one aspect of a situation, problem, or subject

Please look at all sides of the question before you decide.

side of:

I still haven't heard her side of the story.

Mark hasn't kept his side of the bargain.

a) a part of a person's personality

That is a side of Amy that you rarely see.

The president displayed his lighter side before the press conference began.

She told me I need to get in touch with my feminine side.

b) the funny, serious etc side of something is the aspect of it that has that quality

His jokes are often about the darker side of life.

Fortunately, my boss saw the funny side of the situation.

on the plus/minus side (= considering the positive/negative aspects):

It's not a perfect setup but, on the plus side, I can work at home.

See:

bright, safe I

4)

a) [countable] one of two or more groups of people opposing each other

The agreement has been signed by both sides.

Franco didn't want to back the wrong side in a European war.

b) a sports team

Our side lost.

He's been chosen for the England youth side.

losing/winning side:

The winning side will get a place in the finals.

5) [countable] if you are on someone's side, you support them in an argument or a fight

on someone's side:

Don't get annoyed with me – I'm on your side!

take someone's side (= to support one person rather than another one):

Mary always takes your side.

take sides (= to show support for one person and not others):

I'm not taking sides in this argument.

6) [countable] a part of your family, either your father's set of relatives or your mother's

Which side of the family is his uncle from?

on someone's mother's/father's side:

Rose is my cousin on my mother's side.

7) [countable, usually singular] British informal a television channel

Which side is the film on?

Shall we turn over and see what's on the other side?

8) [countable] American mainly spoken a side dish

side of:

I'd like a side of French fries with that.

9) [uncountable] British informal a proud attitude

10) [uncountable] the fact that you have made a ball spin by not hitting it directly in the centre, especially in games such as snooker

•

at/by someone's side — physically beside someone; supporting someone, or remaining loyal to them

His friends were at his side.

The family will be at her side throughout the trial.

get out of the right/wrong side of bed — humorous used for saying that someone is in a good/bad mood

I think the boss must have got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!

on all sides/on every side — in every direction

The country is surrounded on all sides by South Africa.

on the fat/thin/heavy etc side — informal slightly fat/thin/heavy etc

The show seemed on the long side.

I'm afraid I'll be a little on the late side.

on/to one side — in a place that is not directly in front of you; if you put something to one side, you do not talk about it or deal with it now; if you take someone to one side, you talk to them away from other people because you want to say something private to them

He laid the papers on one side and continued working.

He pushed us to one side and went in.

put/set something to one side:

Let's set the question of blame to one side for a minute.

Get him on one side for a moment.

take someone to one side:

I took her to one side to explain why everyone was upset with her.

on the right/wrong side of someone — informal if you are on the right or wrong side of someone, they like/do not like you

Whatever you do, don't get on the wrong side of him!

(on) the right/wrong side of 40/50 etc — informal younger or older than 40/50 etc

She didn't think anyone would be interested in a woman the wrong side of 50.

on the right/wrong side of the law — informal doing legal/illegal things

whose side are you on? — spoken used in a humorous way for telling someone to support you instead of supporting your opponent

- from all sides

- from side to side

- on either side

- on the side

- on your side

- side by side

- this side of something

See:

bread, coin I, split I

II UK [saɪd] / US adjective [only before noun]

1) not in or on the central part of something

He came in through a side door to avoid the crowds.

a side street

a side pocket/seam

2) less important or less central

a side issue

III UK [saɪd] / US verb
Word forms "side":
present tense I/you/we/they side he/she/it sides present participle siding past tense sided past participle sided

Phrasal verbs:

- side with