Using reasoned thought in a non-standard, or non-linear logical, way to find a solution to a problem
(British) thinking that results in new or creative solutions or answers, solving problems by an approach that is indirect and creative, unconventional appraoch to solving of problems
Lateral thinking is a method of solving problems by using your imagination to help you think of solutions that are not obvious at first. a way of thinking in which you use your imagination to see relationships between things that are not normally thought of together
a heuristic for solving problems; you try to look at the problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on