How Do You Spell LATERAL RAISE?

Pronunciation: [lˈatəɹə͡l ɹˈe͡ɪz] (IPA)

The word 'lateral raise' refers to an exercise that targets the shoulder muscles. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /ˈlætərəl reɪz/. The first syllable 'lat' is pronounced with a short 'a' sound, whereas the second syllable 'er' is pronounced with a schwa sound. The 'al' combination in 'lateral' is pronounced as a short 'a' sound followed by a dark 'l.' The word 'raise' has a long 'a' sound pronounced as 'ay,' and the 's' is silent. Overall, the word's spelling is a result of its Latin origin and pronunciation conventions in English.

LATERAL RAISE Meaning and Definition

1. A lateral raise, also known as a lateral deltoid raise or side raise, is an exercise primarily targeted to develop and strengthen the deltoid muscles, particularly the lateral or middle portion. The deltoids are three-headed muscles located at each shoulder, responsible for moving the arms away from the body.

   In a lateral raise, an individual stands upright with their feet shoulder-width apart, and grasps dumbbells or weights in each hand. The exercise begins with the arms extended alongside the body, and the palms facing the thighs or the ground. By contracting the lateral deltoids, the individual lifts both arms sideways and away from the body until they are approximately parallel to the floor. This motion creates a 90-degree angle with the torso. The upward movement should be controlled, avoiding excessive swinging or arching of the back, and the dumbbells should remain parallel to the ground throughout the exercise. After a brief pause at the top, the dumbbells are gradually lowered back to the starting position, following the same controlled motion.

   The lateral raise primarily targets the deltoids, specifically the middle fibers, but also engages the surrounding muscles such as the trapezius and the rotator cuff. It is commonly performed as part of upper body workout routines or in conjunction with other isolation exercises for the shoulders. The lateral raise mainly aims to improve shoulder stability and enhance overall shoulder aesthetics, making it a popular exercise among bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts.

Etymology of LATERAL RAISE

The word "lateral raise" consists of two parts: "lateral" and "raise".

The term "lateral" is derived from the Latin word "lateralis", which means "sideways" or "of the side". It is related to the Latin word "latus", meaning "side". In English, "lateral" is often used to describe something occurring on or pertaining to the side.

The word "raise" comes from the Old Norse word "reisa", which means "to cause to rise" or "to raise". It has been incorporated into English with a similar meaning, referring to the action of lifting or elevating something.

Therefore, the term "lateral raise" combines "lateral" to indicate the direction of the movement (sideways) and "raise" to describe the action of lifting the arms to the side.