side
side
I
/ˈsaıd/ noun , pl sides
1 [ count ] : a place, space, or direction that is away from or beyond the center of something
The army was attacked from all sides.
the right-hand side of the street
the opposite side of the room
Move over. This is my side of the bed.
— often used with on or to
You have some dirt on the side of your face.
The car was hit on the driver's side.
They live on the other side of town.
The cabins are on the east side of the lake.
Guards stood on either side of the gate.
The army was surrounded on every side.
He sat on the side [=edge] of the bed.
The statue is leaning to the side.
The dog tilted its head to one side.
Pull over to the side of the road.
2 [ count ]
2 a : an outer surface or part of something
The box says, “THIS SIDE UP.”
— often + of
the dark side of the moon
You should season both sides of the steak before you grill it.
2 b : one of the surfaces of an object that is not the front, back, top, or bottom
— often + of
Nutritional information can be found on the side of the box.
Red cloth decorated the front and sides of the platform.
The side of the car was badly dented.
2 c : one of the two surfaces of a thin object
Flip the record over and play the other side.
— often + of
She wrote on both sides of the paper.
Look on the back side of the note.
3 [ count ] : a line that forms part of a geometric shape
A square has four sides.
: a surface that forms part of a geometric object
A cube has six sides.
4 [ count ] : one of the slopes of a hill or mountain
— often + of
the steep side of the hill
They built a house on the side of a mountain.
see also hillside, mountainside
5 [ count ]
5 a : the right or left part of your body
She likes to sleep on her right side.
: the right or left part of your body from your shoulder to your hip
I have a pain in my left side.
We laughed so much that our sides hurt.
5 b : the place directly to the right or left of someone
— usually singular
I stood at/by her side as she spoke to reporters.
I was standing on her left side.
She set/put the book to the/one side and looked out the window.
— often used figuratively
His wife stood at/by his side [=remained loyal to him] throughout the scandal.
Promise me that you will not leave my side. [=abandon me]
see also blind side
6 [ count ] : one of two or more opinions, positions, etc., that disagree with each other
He listened to both sides of the argument.
My side [=version] of the story is different from his.
She has since changed sides on that issue.
You are both my friends, so I don't want to choose/pick/take sides. [=support one person and not the other]
Are you on my side or his? [=do you support me or him?]
Whose side are you on, anyway?
People on both sides of the dispute [=people who support one position and people who support the other position] agree that changes are necessary.
— see also
7 [ count ] : one of the two or more people or groups that are involved in an argument, war, etc.
All sides agreed on the treaty.
Each side accuses the other of delaying progress.
8 [ count ]
8 a : a sports team
There are 11 players on each side.
Our side won the game.
(Brit) a football side
We need to choose/pick sides [=to decide which players will be on each team] before we start playing.
8 b baseball : the players on a team who bat in an inning
— usually singular
The pitcher struck out the side [=struck out three batters] in the first inning.
9 a [ count ] : a particular part or feature of something that is opposite to or different from another part or feature
There are good/positive and bad/negative sides to owning your own business.
— often + of
He's learning about the sales side of the business.
She kept her side of the bargain/deal. [=she did what she agreed to do]
see also downside, flip side, upside
9 b
— used in phrases like on the large side, on the heavy side, etc., to describe someone or something as somewhat heavy, large, etc.
She has always been a little on the heavy side. [=has always been somewhat heavy]
These pants are on the tight side. [=are a little tight]
The sauce is a bit on the spicy side. [=is a bit spicy]
Your boyfriend is on the young side for you, isn't he?
10 [ count ]
10 a : a part of someone's personality that is opposite or different from another part
I have never seen this side of you before.
He is in touch with his feminine side.
10 b
— used in phrases like be/get on someone's good/bad side and be/get on the right/wrong side of someone to talk about doing things that cause someone to like you or dislike you
Trust me. You don't want to get on his bad side. [=you don't want to make him annoyed or angry]
She tries to keep/stay on her boss's good side by finishing all of her work on time.
If you get on the wrong side of him [=if you make him annoyed or angry] he can be very mean.
11 [ count ] : the ancestors or relatives of your mother or your father
She gets her red hair from her mother's side.
Both sides of his family are Irish.
my grandfather on my father's side [=my father's father]
12 [ count ] US : a small amount of food that is ordered in addition to the main meal
— often + of
I ordered a side of fries with my hamburger.
13 [ count ] : one of the two halves of an animal that is eaten as food
— usually + of
a side of bacon/pork/beef
14 [ count ] chiefly Brit : a page of writing on one side of a piece of paper
I wrote two sides in response to the question.
15 [ count ] Brit, informal + old-fashioned : a television channel
— usually singular
What's on the other side?
a thorn in the/your side — see thorn
err on the side of — see err
(from) side to side
: moving to the left and then to the right
She shook her head from side to side in disagreement.
waving the flags from side to side
He moved side to side on the tennis court.
let the side down
Brit : to disappoint your family, friends, etc., by failing to do what is needed or expected
I feel like I really let the side down. [=let everyone down]
on side
Brit : included among the group of people who support a particular goal, project, etc.
We need to keep everyone on side. [=on board]
on the bright side — see bright
on the credit side — see credit, 1
on the debit side — see debit, 1
on the right/wrong side of 30, 40, 50 (etc.)
informal : younger/older than 30, 40, 50 (etc.)
She's still on the right side of 40. [=younger than 40]
on the side
1 a : in addition to the main item in a meal
We were served salmon with rice and grilled vegetables on the side.
1 b : served next to something rather than on top of it
For my salad, I'd like Italian dressing on the side.
2 : in addition to your main job
She sells insurance on the side.
3 : as part of a secret romantic relationship that is outside of your marriage or main romantic relationship
a married man with a girlfriend on the side
She had a fiancé but was seeing another man on the side.
on the wrong/right side of the law
— used to say that someone is or is not living the life of a criminal
He has been on the wrong side of the law since he stole a car at the age of 17.
Now that she's out of prison she's trying to stay on the right side of the law. [=trying not to get into trouble with the police]
on your side
: as an advantage
He is not a very tall basketball player, but he does have quickness on his side.
: helping you to succeed
Luck seems to be on your side tonight.
Time is on our side. [=we have a lot of time to do what we need to do]
— see also side 6 (above), 1
side by side
1 : next to each other and facing in the same direction
We walked side by side down the hallway.
They stood side by side at the altar.
2 : together or very close to each other
The tribes have lived peacefully side by side for many years.
People worked side by side to rescue the trapped coal miners.
split your sides (laughing) — see split, 1
the other side of the coin — see coin, 1
the wrong side of the tracks — see track, 1
this side of
1 a : very nearly (something)
Their actions were just this side of illegal. [=were almost but not quite illegal]
1 b : that is not (something) : other than (something)
the worst punishment this side of death
2 Brit : before
She's not likely to be back this side of Monday week.
to the/one side
1 : to a place that is on one side : aside
Please move/step to the side. I need to get past you.
He put his luggage to one side.
She took the boy to the side [=away from other people] and told him to behave.
2 : in a state in which something is not dealt with, done, or used until a later time : aside
Let's put/leave that question to the side for a moment.
He set his household chores to the side to finish writing his essay.
They managed to put some money to the side every month.
— see also side 1 (above), 1
two sides of the same coin — see coin, 1
— compare side, 4
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II
adj , always used before a noun
1 : of or located on the side of something
a front and side view of the car
The jacket has side pockets.
Please use the side door/entrance.
2 : happening or done in addition to the main or most important thing
A side benefit of the drug is that it helps patients relax.
She took on a side project/job during the summer.
a side remark/issue
3 : in addition to the main meal
a side salad
I had a burger with a side order of fries.
I'll have rice as a side dish.
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III
verb , sides, sid·ed, sid·ing [ + obj ]
US : to cover the outside walls of (a building) with long pieces of material (called siding)
They just sided their house.
side against [ phrasal verb ]
side against (someone) : to not agree with (someone) : to not support the opinions or actions of (someone)
They both sided against [=opposed] me.
His father sided with his mother against him.
side with [ phrasal verb ]
side with (someone) : to agree with or support the opinions or actions of (someone)
She sided with her friend in the argument.
They betrayed their country and sided with the enemy.
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IV
noun [ noncount ]
Brit informal : an unpleasantly proud attitude or way of behaving
He was a war hero and yet there was no side to him. [=he was not arrogant or pretentious]
— compare side, 1
