Meaning

• A security or guarantee (usually an asset) pledged for the repayment of a loan if one cannot procure enough funds to repay.

• (genealogy) A collateral (not linear) family member.

• A branch of a bodily part or system of organs.

  "Besides the arteries blood streams through numerous veins we call collaterals."

• Printed materials or content of electronic media used to enhance sales of products (short form of collateral material).

• A thinner blood vessel providing an alternate route to blood flow in case the main vessel becomes occluded.

• A contemporary or rival.

Meaning

• Parallel, along the same vein, side by side.

• Corresponding; accompanying, concomitant.

• Being aside from the main subject, target, or goal.

  "Although not a direct cause, the border skirmish was certainly a collateral incitement for the war."

• (genealogy) Of an indirect ancestral relationship, as opposed to lineal descendency.

  "Uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces are collateral relatives."

• Relating to a collateral in the sense of an obligation or security.

• Expensive to the extent of being paid through a loan.

• Coming or directed along the side.

  "collateral pressure"

• Acting in an indirect way.

• (of a vascular bundle) Having the phloem and xylem adjacent.