parallel

SayPA-ruh-lel/ˈpæɹəˌlɛl/UK/ˈpæɹəlɛl/

22 meanings of parallel

1
adjective
Staying the same distance apart at every point, so the lines never meet.
Like the two rails of a train track, always the same distance apart.
The two train tracks stay parallel for miles.
She drew two parallel lines across the page.
Similarequidistant, aligned
Oppositeperpendicular, converging
Note
2
adjective
Going in the same direction as something else.
Like two cars driving side by side in the same direction.
The path runs parallel to the river.
Keep the boat parallel to the dock as you tie it up.
Similaraligned
Oppositeperpendicular
Note
3
adjectivefiguratively
Very similar or comparable to something else in an important way.
The two stories have parallel ideas about friendship.
Their lives took parallel paths after college.
Similarsimilar, analogous, comparable, corresponding, matching
Oppositedifferent, divergent, dissimilar, contrasting
4
nouncountable
Something that is very much like another thing.
There is a clear parallel between the two stories.
We can find a parallel in our own lives.
Similarequivalent, similarity, counterpart, analogue, precedent
Oppositecontrast, difference
Note
5
verbtransitive
To run next to something in the same direction.
Like two friends walking side by side down the same street.
The road parallels the river for miles.
The two paths parallel each other through the woods.
Similarfollow, track, shadow, skirt, hug
Oppositecross, intersect
Note
6
verbtransitive
To be very similar to another process or set of events.
The story parallels real events from the war.
Their experiences parallel each other in surprising ways.
Similarmirror, echo, resemble, match, reflect
7
adjective
Able to handle many tasks at the same time instead of one after another.
Like many cooks each making a different dish at the same time, instead of one cook making them one by one.
The new processor does parallel work on many calculations at once.
Parallel systems split a big job into smaller pieces.
Similarconcurrent, simultaneous
Oppositeserial, sequential
Note
8
adjective
Existing alongside our own world but not normally touching it.
Like another world right next to ours that we usually cannot see or reach.
In the movie, a parallel world looks just like ours but with small changes.
She dreamed of a parallel universe where she made different choices.
Similaralternate, alternative
Note
9
nouncountable
An imaginary line around the Earth that shows how far north or south a place is.
Like the rungs of a ladder wrapped around the Earth.
The 49th parallel forms part of the border between the two countries.
Sailors used each parallel to track how far north they had traveled.
Similarlatitude
Note
10
nouncountable or uncountable
A way of connecting electrical parts so the current can flow along more than one path.
Like a river splitting into several streams that each carry some of the water.
Wiring the lights in parallel means one can fail without the rest going out.
The batteries are joined in parallel so the device lasts longer.
Oppositeseries
Note

11
nouncountable
A comparison that points out how two things are alike.
The teacher drew a parallel between the book and real life.
He made a parallel between the two wars in his speech.
Similarcomparison, analogy
Oppositecontrast, distinction
Note
12
verbtransitive
To be equal to or match something else closely.
Like two clocks that always show the same time.
Her new salary parallels the regional average.
His habits closely parallel his father's.
Similarmatch, equal, rival, mirror
13
verbtransitive
To compare one thing to another, showing how they are alike.
Like holding two pictures side by side to show they look alike.
Writers often parallel love with a long journey.
She parallels the new law to one from the past.
Similarcompare, liken, equate
Oppositecontrast, distinguish
14
adverb
In a way that runs side by side without ever meeting.
Like two lines on a notebook page that never cross.
The train tracks run parallel through the valley.
We walked parallel to the river all afternoon.
Similaralongside
Note
15
nouncountable
A line that runs beside another without ever meeting it.
Like one of the two long rails of a train track.
He drew a parallel next to the first line.
The parallels on the page stayed the same distance apart.
16
adjective
Staying the same distance apart and never crossing.
Like the two long edges of a ruler, always the same distance apart.
The two parallel lines never touched.
Draw a line parallel to the bottom edge.
Similarequidistant
Oppositeperpendicular
Note
17
verbtransitive
To build or set one thing so that it runs beside another without meeting.
Like laying a new path right beside an old one.
The builders parallel the new fence with the old one.
Workers paralleled the path with the canal last spring.
Similaralign
Note
18
verbtransitive
To shape one thing so that it matches another in its qualities or goals.
Like changing your daily plan to match a friend's so you can spend time together.
Good teachers parallel each lesson with their students' real lives.
She tried to parallel her schedule to her partner's.
Similaralign, match, harmonize, attune
19
verbtransitive
To bring up one thing as an example that matches another.
Like pointing to a past game to show how this one might go.
Lawyers often parallel old cases to support their arguments.
She parallels a famous experiment to back up her claim.
Similarcite, invoke, adduce
Note
20
nouncountable
The same direction as another line, running beside it.
Like two friends walking the same way, always side by side.
The trail keeps a steady parallel with the stream.
Draw the second line in parallel with the first.
Similaralignment
21
nouncountable
A printed mark of two upright lines, used to point readers to a note.
Like a tiny arrow that tells you to look at a note somewhere else.
The editor placed a parallel beside the line to flag a footnote.
A small parallel in the margin pointed to the extra note.
Note
22
nouncountable
A long trench dug by attackers around a fort, used to protect soldiers.
Like a long ditch dug in a line so soldiers can hide while they attack.
The soldiers dug a parallel within range of the fort's walls.
Each parallel gave the troops cover from enemy fire.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle French parallèle, which came from Latin parallelus. The verb comes from the noun.