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out·side (out-sīd, outsīd′)
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n.
1. The part or parts that face out; the outer surface.
2.
a. The part or side of an object that is presented to the viewer; the external aspect.
b. Outward aspect or appearance: "You'll never persuade me that I can't tell what men are by their outsides" (George Eliot).
3. The space beyond a boundary or limit.
4. Sports A position at a distance from the inside or center, as of a playing field or racetrack.
5. The utmost limit; the maximum: We'll be leaving in ten days at the outside.
adj.
1.
a. Of, relating to, or being on or near the outer side; outer: the outside margin.
b. Of, restricted to, or situated on the outer side of an enclosure or a boundary; external: an outside door lock; an outside antenna.
2. Located away from the inside or center: the outside traffic lane.
3.
a. Acting, occurring, originating, or being at a place beyond certain limits: knew little of the outside world.
b. Gaining or providing access to the external side: an outside telephone line.
4.
a. Not belonging to or originating in a certain group or association: requested outside assistance; deplored outside interference.
b. Being beyond the limits of one's usual work or responsibilities: My outside interests are skiing and sailing.
5. Extreme, uttermost: The costs have exceeded even our outside estimates.
6. Very unlikely; remote: only an outside possibility of winning the tournament.
7. Baseball Passing on the side of home plate away from the batter. Used of a pitch.
adv.
1. On or to the outer or external side.
2. Outdoors.
prep.
1. On or to the outer or external side of: saw someone outside the window.
2. Beyond the limits of: a little place outside the city.
3. With the exception of; except: We have no other information outside the figures already given.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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