parallel

[ par-uh-lel, -luhl ]

/ ˈpær əˌlɛl, -ləl /

adjective

extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging: parallel rows of trees.

having the same direction, course, nature, or tendency; corresponding; similar; analogous: Canada and the U.S. have many parallel economic interests.

Geometry.

(of straight lines) lying in the same plane but never meeting no matter how far extended.
(of planes) having common perpendiculars.
(of a single line, plane, etc.) equidistant from another or others (usually followed by to or with).

Electricity. consisting of or having component parts connected in parallel: a parallel circuit.

Music.

(of two voice parts) progressing so that the interval between them remains the same.
(of a tonality or key) having the same tonic but differing in mode.

Computers.

of or relating to the apparent or actual performance of more than one operation at a time, by the same or different devices (distinguished from serial): Some computer systems join more than one CPU for parallel processing.
of or relating to the simultaneous transmission or processing of all the parts of a whole, as all the bits of a byte or all the bytes of a computer word (distinguished from serial).

noun

a parallel line or plane.

anything parallel or comparable in direction, course, nature, or tendency to something else.

Also called parallel of latitude. Geography.

an imaginary circle on the earth's surface formed by the intersection of a plane parallel to the plane of the equator, bearing east and west and designated in degrees of latitude north or south of the equator along the arc of any meridian.
the line representing this circle on a chart or map.

something identical or similar in essential respects; match; counterpart: a case history without a known parallel.

correspondence or analogy: These two cases have some parallel with each other.

a comparison of things as if regarded side by side.

Electricity. an arrangement of the components, as resistances, of a circuit in such a way that all positive terminals are connected to one point and all negative terminals are connected to a second point, the same voltage being applied to each component. Compare series(def 9).

Fortification. a trench cut in the ground before a fortress, parallel to its defenses, for the purpose of covering a besieging force.

Printing. a pair of vertical parallel lines (‖) used as a mark for reference.

Theater. a trestle for supporting a platform (parallel top).

verb (used with object), par·al·leled, par·al·lel·ing or (especially British) par·al·lelled, par·al·lel·ling.

to provide or show a parallel for; match.

to go or be in a parallel course, direction, etc., to: The road parallels the river.

to form a parallel to; be equivalent to; equal.

to show the identity or similarity of; compare.

to make parallel.

Origin of parallel

1540–50; < Latin parallēlus < Greek parállēlos side by side, equivalent to par- par- + állēlos one another; see allo-, else

SYNONYMS FOR parallel

2 like, alike.

10 equivalent, equal, mate, duplicate, twin, double.

ANTONYMS FOR parallel

2 divergent; unlike; unique.

10 opposite.

OTHER WORDS FROM parallel

par·al·lel·a·ble, adjective par·al·lel·less, adjective par·al·lel·ly, adverb non·par·al·lel, adjective, noun

sub·par·al·lel, adjective un·par·al·lel, adjective

Words nearby parallel

paralipsis, parallactic ellipse, parallactic motion, parallax, parallax test, parallel, parallel bars, parallel circuit, parallel cousin, parallel cousin marriage, parallel evolution

British Dictionary definitions for nonparallel

parallel

/ (ˈpærəˌlɛl) /

adjective (when postpositive, usually foll by to)

separated by an equal distance at every point; never touching or intersecting parallel walls

corresponding; similar parallel situations

music

Also: consecutive (of two or more parts or melodies) moving in similar motion but keeping the same interval apart throughoutparallel fifths
denoting successive chords in which the individual notes move in parallel motion

grammar denoting syntactic constructions in which the constituents of one construction correspond to those of the other

computing operating on several items of information, instructions, etc, simultaneously Compare serial (def. 6)

noun

maths one of a set of parallel lines, planes, etc

an exact likeness

a comparison

Also called: parallel of latitude any of the imaginary lines around the earth parallel to the equator, designated by degrees of latitude ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles

a configuration of two or more electrical components connected between two points in a circuit so that the same voltage is applied to each (esp in the phrase in parallel)
(as modifier)a parallel circuit See series (def. 6)

printing the character (∥) used as a reference mark

a trench or line lying in advance of and parallel to other defensive positions

verb -lels, -leling or -leled (tr)

to make parallel

to supply a parallel to

to be a parallel to or correspond with your experience parallels mine

Word Origin for parallel

C16: via French and Latin from Greek parallēlos alongside one another, from para- 1 + allēlos one another

Scientific definitions for nonparallel

parallel

[ păr′ə-lĕl′ ]

Adjective

Of or relating to lines or surfaces that are separated everywhere from each other by the same distance.

Noun

Any of the imaginary lines encircling the Earth's surface parallel to the plane of the equator, used to represent degrees of latitude. See illustration at longitude.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

parallel

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), par·al·leled, par·al·lel·ing or (especially British) par·al·lelled, par·al·lel·ling.

Origin of parallel

SYNONYMS FOR parallel

ANTONYMS FOR parallel

OTHER WORDS FROM parallel

Words nearby parallel

British Dictionary definitions for nonparallel

adjective (when postpositive, usually foll by to)

noun

verb -lels, -leling or -leled (tr)

Word Origin for parallel

Scientific definitions for nonparallel

Adjective

Noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

parallel

adjective

noun

verb (used with object), par·al·leled, par·al·lel·ing or (especially British) par·al·lelled, par·al·lel·ling.

Origin of parallel

SYNONYMS FOR parallel

ANTONYMS FOR parallel

OTHER WORDS FROM parallel

Words nearby parallel

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for nonparallel

adjective (when postpositive, usually foll by to)

noun

verb -lels, -leling or -leled (tr)

Word Origin for parallel

Scientific definitions for nonparallel

Adjective

Noun

British Dictionary definitions for nonparallel