I. ˈparəˌlel also ˈper- or -rələl sometimes ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈlel adjective
Etymology: Latin parallelus, from Greek parallēlos, from para beside + allēlōn of one another, from allos … allos one … the other — more at para- , else
1. : extending in the same direction and everywhere equidistant : forming a line in the same direction but not meeting
half a dozen parallel scars … ran from his forehead into the thickness of his hair — Eric Linklater
parallel rows of tall poplars — American Guide Series: Washington
the ships steam on parallel courses as close together as feasible — W.D.Leggett
a long, low house running parallel with the road — G.K.Chesterton
a line parallel to the edge of a paper
2.
a. : not meeting however far extended — used of lines in the same plane, of planes, or of a line and a plane
b. : everywhere equally distant
concentric circles are parallel
concentric spheres are parallel
involutes of the same space curve are parallel
3.
a. : having parallel sides
a parallel file
a parallel gutter
a parallel reamer
b. : being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
4.
a. : marked by likeness or correspondence especially in time, direction, course, tendency, or development : similar, analogous, or interdependent in line followed : tending toward the same point or result
parallel strikes on the railroads, in the gas and electricity services — Percy Winner
the standing committee systems in the two Houses are reasonably parallel — Harold Zink
b. : set side by side : capable of being matched : companion : readily compared or contrasted
the marriage rate turned upward … the birth rate entered upon a parallel climb — Oscar Handlin
all sorts of pranks, parallel to the serious exploits performed by the heroes — R.A.Hall b. 1911
c.
(1) : having identical syntactic elements in corresponding positions
(2) : identical in construction to a syntactic element in a corresponding position
d. : keeping at the same distance apart in musical pitch : having consecutive motion
parallel voice parts
parallel fifths
— compare consecutive intervals
5. : of or in accordance with philosophical parallelism
Synonyms: see like
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a parallel line, curve, or surface
b.
(1) : one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude
(2) : the corresponding line on a globe or map
c. : one of a series of long trenches that is approximately parallel to the face of fortification works attacked and that is constructed by a besieging force as a cover for troops
d. : a character ‖ used in printing as the fifth in series of the reference marks — often used in plural
2.
a. : something equal or similar in all essential details : counterpart
progress that is without parallel in the history of mankind — Current Biography
the situation of modern man … has no parallel in the past — Rudolf Allers
conductor of such genius that he has no exact parallel in reality — Marcia Davenport
implements from near the end of the old Stone Age find parallels among those of the Eskimo — A.L.Kroeber
b. : agreement in many or all essential details : resemblance , similarity , analogue
there are parallels in Grettis Saga … to encounters like this — W.P.Ker
pre-Columbian cultural parallels found in the two hemispheres — R.W.Murray
3. : a comparison to show resemblance : a tracing of similarity
many interesting parallels are drawn with the historical plays of Shakespeare — Times Literary Supplement
4.
a. : parallel position or state of being physically parallel : parallelism
deviation of the two visual lines from parallel — H.G.Armstrong
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 on a parallel branch of the circuit
several generators operated in parallel
— called also multiple ; contrasted with series
5.
a. : parallel rule
b. : a block or strip of metal made with two parallel sides and used especially in machine-shop work (as for a gage block or for setting up work)
6. : a raised platform that is parallel with the floor, that has a folding base, and that is used especially for lights or cameras (as in the theater or in a television studio) ; also : the folding base
Synonyms: see comparison
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to set up as closely analogous or agreeing in essential qualities or characteristics : compare
he parallels the jollity of Christmas at Dingley Dell with the picture of country life in Attica — Lucien Price
2.
a. : to show something equal or parallel to : match
parallel that stage of national culture — Deems Taylor
disablement behavior amongst birds may be paralleled in human life — E.A.Armstrong
with a precipitancy only to be paralleled by her exit from this mortal scene — T.L.Peacock
state of affairs is partially paralleled in contemporary medicine — A.L.Kroeber
long head hair in some humans is paralleled by that of Angora cats — Weston LaBarre
b. : to be or form a parallel to : correspond to
a piece of fiction paralleling a historical incident
paralleling this change in artistic practice is a change in the concurrent critical apologia — Bernard Smith
program which roughly paralleled the private school — J.B.Conant
the career of the principal character parallels the actual life story — Bennett Cerf
3. obsolete : to produce or adduce as a parallel
my young remembrance cannot parallel a fellow to it — Shakespeare
4. : to place so as to be parallel to or to conform in direction with something
machines comb, parallel , and blend the fibers — Story of Twine in Agriculture
three rifles were paralleled on pegs — Stephen Crane
5. : to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to : correspond to or match in direction
an airstrip paralleling the highway
the route parallels the river
intransitive verb
: to be parallel
long and narrow farms, crowded by paralleling ridges — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
IV. adverb
: in a parallel manner — often used with with or to
V. adjective
1. : arranged in parallel
a parallel processor
2. : 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 — compare serial 1 herein
VI. noun
: an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively