adj., n., & v.
adj. 1 a (of lines or planes) side by side and having the same distance continuously between them. b (foll. by to, with) (of a line or plane) having this relation (to another). 2 (of circumstances etc.) precisely similar, analogous, or corresponding. 3 a (of processes etc.) occurring or performed simultaneously. b Computing involving the simultaneous performance of operations.
n. 1 a person or thing precisely analogous or equal to another. 2 a comparison (drew a parallel between the two situations). 3 (in full parallel of latitude) Geog. a each of the imaginary parallel circles of constant latitude on the earth's surface. b a corresponding line on a map (the 49th parallel). 4 Printing two parallel lines (ll) as a reference mark.
v.tr. (paralleled, paralleling) 1 be parallel to; correspond to. 2 represent as similar; compare. 3 adduce as a parallel instance. in parallel (of electric circuits) arranged so as to join at common points at each end. parallel bars a pair of parallel rails on posts for gymnastics. parallelism n.
[ F parallèle f. L parallelus f. Gk parallelos (as PARA-(1), allelos one another) ]