PARALLEL


Meaning of PARALLEL in English

/ ˈpærəlel; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb

■ adjective

1.

parallel (to / with sth) two or more lines that are parallel to each other are the same distance apart at every point :

parallel lines

The road and the canal are parallel to each other.

2.

very similar or taking place at the same time :

a parallel case

parallel trends

3.

( computing ) involving several computer operations at the same time :

parallel processing

►  par·al·lel adverb :

The road and the canal run parallel to each other.

The plane flew parallel to the coast.

■ noun

1.

[ C , U ] a person, a situation, an event, etc. that is very similar to another, especially one in a different place or time

SYN equivalent :

These ideas have parallels in Freud's thought too.

This is an achievement without parallel in modern times.

This tradition has no parallel in our culture.

2.

[ C , usually pl. ] similar features :

There are interesting parallels between the 1960s and the late 1990s.

It is possible to draw a parallel between (= find similar features in) their experience and ours.

3.

(also ˌparallel of ˈlatitude ) [ C ] an imaginary line around the earth that is always the same distance from the equator ; this line on a map :

the 49th parallel

IDIOMS

- in parallel (with sth/sb)

■ verb [ vn ]

1.

to be similar to sth; to happen at the same time as sth :

Their legal system parallels our own.

The rise in unemployment is paralleled by an increase in petty crime.

2.

to be as good as sth

SYN equal :

a level of achievement that has never been paralleled

—compare unparalleled

••

WORD ORIGIN

mid 16th cent.: from French parallèle , via Latin from Greek parallēlos , from para- alongside + allēlos one another.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.