ˈparəˌleˌlizəm, -rələˌli- also ˈper- noun
( -s )
1. : the quality or state of being parallel
a lack of parallelism of the heads of the testing machine — Proving Rings for Calibrating Testing Machines
2. : resemblance , correspondence , similarity
parallelism of interests
parallelism in nomenclature between the kinship terms of affinity in English, French, and German — Edward Sapir
parallelism between obesity and hypertension — H.M.Marvin
3.
a. : similarity of construction of adjacent word groups equivalent, complementary, or antithetic in sense especially for rhetorical effect or rhythm
b. : reiteration in similar phrases (as in Hebrew poetry)
4. : a philosophical theory that mind and matter accompany one another but are not causally related:
a. : a theory that mind and matter are universally coordinate aspects of reality — compare dualism , interactionism , occasionalism
b. : psychophysical parallelism
5. : the development or possession of similar new characters by two or more related organisms in response to similarity of environment — compare convergence 3
6. : the independent development of similar elements or traits in several cultures from a common element — compare convergence 4, diffusion 1