sides

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of side.

   The two sides finally agreed on the terms of the contract.

   She wrote notes on both sides of the page.

   Note

   A regular plural with a useful precision in it. People counting paper often speak of sides rather than pages, because a side is one surface of a sheet, while a page can mean one surface or both. Four sides therefore means four written surfaces. The same spelling also serves as the present-tense verb, as in she sides with the reformers.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of side.

   In every committee vote, she sides with the reform group.

   Whenever the partners disagree, he sides with whoever spoke last.

   Note

   The present-tense form does most of its work in disagreements: she sides with the reform group. With is its usual partner, and in with turns up only rarely. In this alliance sense the verb is intransitive, so the person supported follows the preposition and never comes directly after sides. The older transitive uses, meaning to stand beside or to match, are obsolete.

3. 3
   nounslangabbreviationclipping

   Clipping of side effects; slang.

   He stopped the cycle early when the sides became unbearable.

   Many users complain about the sides more than the cost.

   Note

   Slang that shortens side effects by dropping the second word. What remains is spelled exactly like the ordinary plural, so context has to do the work: it usually takes the and follows talk of a drug, supplement or treatment, as in the sides got worse. Keep it for casual talk among people who already share the topic. In medical or careful writing, say side effects in full.

Showing meanings only. Show all 3