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Meaning of "lateral thinking" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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PRONUNCIATION OF LATERAL THINKING

lateral thinking play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF LATERAL THINKING

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Lateral thinking is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES LATERAL THINKING MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Lateral thinking

Lateral thinking is solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. The term was coined in 1967 by Edward de Bono. According to de Bono, lateral thinking deliberately distances itself from standard perceptions of creativity as either "vertical" logic or "horizontal" imagination.

Definition of lateral thinking in the English dictionary

The definition of lateral thinking in the dictionary is a way of solving problems by rejecting traditional methods and employing unorthodox and apparently illogical means.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE LATERAL THINKING

later
latera recta
laterad
lateral
lateral line system
lateralise
laterality
lateralization
lateralize
laterally
Lateran
Lateran palace
laterigrade
laterisation
laterite
lateritic
lateritious
laterization
laterize
lateroversion

WORDS THAT END LIKE LATERAL THINKING

banking
blinking
booking
drinking
high-ranking
home banking
planking
plinking
positive thinking
ranking
retail banking
shrinking
sinking
spanking
stinking
tanking
thinking
trunking
unblinking
winking
wishful thinking

Synonyms and antonyms of lateral thinking in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «lateral thinking» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF LATERAL THINKING

Find out the translation of lateral thinking to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of lateral thinking from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «lateral thinking» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

横向思维
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

pensamiento lateral
570 millions of speakers

English

lateral thinking
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

पार्श्व सोच
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

التفكير الجانبي
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

нестандартное мышление
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

pensamento lateral
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

পার্শ্বীয় চিন্তাভাবনা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

la pensée latérale
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

pemikiran lateral
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Querdenken
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

水平思考
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

수평 적 사고
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Pikiran lateral
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

suy nghĩ bên
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

பக்கவாட்டு சிந்தனை
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

पार्श्विक विचार
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Yanal düşünme
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

pensiero laterale
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

myślenia lateralnego
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

нестандартне мислення
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

gândire laterală
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

πλευρικής σκέψης
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

laterale denke
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

lateralt tänkande
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

lateral tenkning
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of lateral thinking

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «LATERAL THINKING»

The term «lateral thinking» is regularly used and occupies the 58.732 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
73
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «lateral thinking» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of lateral thinking
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «lateral thinking».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «LATERAL THINKING» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «lateral thinking» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «lateral thinking» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about lateral thinking

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «LATERAL THINKING»

Discover the use of lateral thinking in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to lateral thinking and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Lateral Thinking: A Textbook of Creativity
This works well in simple situations - but we are at a loss when this approach fails. What then? Lateral thinking is all about freeing up your imagination.
Edward de Bono, 2009
2
Outstanding Lateral Thinking Puzzles
The latest in the hugely popular series of think-out-of-the box brainteasers, including Classic Lateral Thinking Challenges and Colorful Lateral Thinking Puzzles.
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 2005
3
Lateral Thinking Puzzlers
Gathers word problems that involve using the imagination to explain a seemingly inexplicable situation
Paul Sloane, 1992
4
Challenging Lateral Thinking Puzzles
Offers a selection of puzzles that can only be solved through the use of "lateral thinking."
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 1993
5
Colorful Lateral Thinking Puzzles
A collection of puzzles that will challenge the best puzzle solver.
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 2004
6
Infuriating Lateral Thinking Puzzles
These are no exception: each challenging mental teaser presents a mini-scenario with a secret twist that’s truly tough to figure out.
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 2010
7
The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills: Unlocking the ...
You can use lateral thinking to turn your organization around.This book describes how the lateral leader develops the vision, culture and processes that transform a regular business into an innovation hothouse.
Paul Sloane, 2006
8
The Everything Lateral Thinking Puzzles Book: Hundreds of ...
Organized by puzzle type and subject matter, simple and challenging riddles abound in this interactive book.
Nikki Katz, 2006
9
Brain-Busting Lateral Thinking Puzzles
Presents a collection of puzzles that use lateral thinking skills.
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 2004
10
Super Lateral Thinking Puzzles
Offers eighty brain-twisting puzzles featuring riddles and real-life conundrums to stimulate logical thinking.
Paul Sloane, Des MacHale, 2000

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «LATERAL THINKING»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term lateral thinking is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Pocket Power: Castlevania: Circle of the Moon | Hardcore Gamer
... a diverse magic system that allows you to tinker your play style and genuine secrets and discoveries that take effort and lateral thinking to find ... «Hardcore Gamer, Jul 15»
2
Youngsters turn mentors for underprivileged children
... they lacked adult role models, which in turn impacted their academic performance, confidence, lateral thinking and problem solving skills. «I am in dna of India, Jul 15»
3
Back-to-front thinking on innovation
"And the way we have always done it there is we have an open environment. There is lots of lateral thinking and students are all dreaming up ... «New Zealand Herald, Jul 15»
4
A new horizon
One must have good communication skills, able to work in team, lateral thinking and good in idea generation. The major recruiters in this field ... «The Statesman, Jul 15»
5
How to Be Successful: 6 New Shortcuts Backed by Research
What's a consistent theme throughout the book? Lateral thinking. The secret to succeeding faster isn't working more, it's working different. «New York Observer, Jul 15»
6
Comment: The big grocers need to discover new purpose
The winners of this zero-sum game need to indulge in some lateral thinking. IKEA's prediction that by 2025 we won't have fridges, and food will ... «Retail Week, Jul 15»
7
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: No 8 wire attitude with a twist
He says when money is tight you have to apply lateral thinking. Create your own opportunities. You have to believe in yourself. Like when he ... «New Zealand Herald, Jul 15»
8
Mediumweight Designer
Exceptionally fast strong conceptual skills and strong lateral thinking. Strong visual thinking and solutions. Mac skills - Photoshop, inDesign, ... «Bizcommunity.com, Jul 15»
9
Population problem
This refers to 'Some lateral thinking on the economy' by Sidharth Birla (July 14). More government spending on infrastructure, capitalisation of ... «Hindu Business Line, Jul 15»
10
Some lateral thinking on the economy
The Indian imagination went through anxious moments this past fortnight with speculation over Greece, then over Chinese stock markets. «Hindu Business Line, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Lateral thinking [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/lateral-thinking>. May 2024 ».
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