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Glite Dictionary
lateral line

lateral line

1 8.3
A line of small sense organs along the side of a fish or amphibian that senses water movement
  • noun
  • /ˈlætərəl laɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : línea lateral
  • Or senses of electric impulses, like fish have with the lateral line system.
  • lateral line in fish

Examples

  • In the landscape of the plains, there are so many reasons for concluding that the lateral line is the world's predominant fact, as well as its ubiquitous abstraction.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The lateral-line system senses vibrations.

    Blog text (28)

  • So they're not like the the lateral line systems.

  • Both the swim bladder and lateral line system are well developed, especially in the sciaenids.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The lateral line consists of a series of pits that contain hair cells that conduct low-frequency vibrations.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The lateral line allows fish to sense movements and changes in pressure in the water around them.

  • Fish use their lateral line to navigate through murky waters and avoid obstacles.

  • The lateral line detects vibrations, helping fish communicate and find food in their environment.

Synonyms

lateral line organ
vslateral line
  • Specialized
8.8

A group of cells on fish that sense water movement and pressure

is the same but is said without the extra noun organ

Surface Forms

lateral line singular
lateral lines plural

Morphology

lateral + line

The components 'lateral' (side) and 'line' (a linear feature) make it clear that this refers to a line along the side, so a B1 learner would likely infer the spatial aspect. However, the specific specialized meaning — that it is a system of sensory organs that detects water movement — is technical and not directly predictable from the parts alone, so the overall meaning requires some domain knowledge.

Etymology

Lateral line comes from the clear picture of a lateral 'side' line running along a fish's body, and that line is a row of tiny sensors that feel water movement. So, the name refers to the parts that let fish 'detect' changes in water pressure and nearby movement.