I. ˈper-ə-ˌlel, ˈpa-rə-, -ləl adjective
Etymology: Latin parallelus, from Greek parallēlos, from para beside + allēlōn of one another, from allos…allos one…another, from allos other — more at else
Date: 1549
1.
a. : extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant, and not meeting
parallel rows of trees
b. : everywhere equally distant
concentric spheres are parallel
2.
a. : having parallel sides
a parallel reamer
b. : being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
c. : arranged in parallel
a parallel processor
d. : relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate channels at the same time
a parallel port
— compare serial
3.
a.
(1) : similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development
(2) : exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development
parallel evolution
b. : readily compared : companion
c. : having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions ; also : being such an element
d.
(1) : having the same tonic — used of major and minor keys and scales
(2) : keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch
4. : performed while keeping one's skis parallel
parallel turns
Synonyms: see similar
II. noun
Date: 1551
1.
a. : a parallel line, curve, or surface
b. : one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude ; also : the corresponding line on a globe or map — see latitude illustration
c. : a character || used in printing especially as a reference mark
2.
a. : something equal or similar in all essential particulars : counterpart
b. : similarity , analogue
3. : a comparison to show resemblance
4.
a. : the state of being physically parallel
b. : an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circuit — compare series
c. : an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively
•
- in parallel
III. transitive verb
Date: 1598
1. : to indicate analogy of : compare
2.
a. : to show something equal to : match
b. : to correspond to
3. : to place so as to be parallel in direction with something
4. : to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to
IV. adverb
Date: circa 1747
: in a parallel manner