expression, godan verb (-ku)
set aside; lay aside; put aside
Used for temporarily putting something aside, often to focus on something else. Can be literal (placing an object to the side) or figurative (setting aside a topic or task).
その話は脇に置いて、本題に入りましょう。
Let's set that topic aside and get to the main point.
読みかけの本を脇に置いて、窓の外を見た。
I put the book I was reading aside and looked out the window.