parallel

¹par·al·lel

adj \ˈper-ə-ˌlel, ˈpa-rə-, -ləl\

Definition of PARALLEL

1

a : extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant, and not meeting <parallel rows of trees> b : everywhere equally distant <concentric spheres are parallel>

2

a : having parallel sides <a parallel reamer> b : being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel c : arranged in parallel <a parallel processor> d : 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 <a parallel port> — compare serial

3

a (1) : similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development (2) : exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development <parallel evolution> b : readily compared : companion c : having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions; also : being such an element d (1) : having the same tonic —used of major and minor keys and scales (2) : keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch

4

: performed while keeping one's skis parallel <parallel turns>

Examples of PARALLEL

1. the parallel careers of the two movie stars
2. These two sentences are parallel in structure.
3. Notice the parallel development of the two technologies.

Origin of PARALLEL

Latin parallelus, from Greek parallēlos, from para beside + allēlōn of one another, from allos … allos one … another, from allos other — more at else

First Known Use: 1549

Related to PARALLEL

Synonyms: akin, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, ditto, like, matching, alike, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike

Antonyms: different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike

Related Words: commensurate, proportionate; tantamount, virtual; allied, congeneric, congenerous, congenial, connatural, kin, kindred, relatable, related; approaching, approximating, close, coextensive, coincident, conformable, conforming, consistent, consonant, duplicate, equal, equivalent, fungible, identical, indistinguishable, interchangeable, me-too, redundant, same, selfsame, substitutable, synonymous, twin; entire, homogeneous, homogenous, unchanging, uniform, unvaried, unvarying

Near Antonyms: disparate, distinct, distinguishable, nonequivalent, noninterchangeable; variable, varied, various, varying; imprecise, inaccurate, inexact; unconnected, unrelated

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See Synonym Discussion at similar

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Rhymes with PARALLEL

APL, Appenzell, aquarelle, asphodel, Azazel, bagatelle, barbicel, béchamel, brocatelle, Camberwell, caramel, caravel, carousel, cascabel, chanterelle, chaparral, Charles Martel, citadel, clientele, cockleshell, Cozumel, decibel, demoiselle, diving bell, fare-thee-well, fontanel, immortelle, Jezebel, killer cell, kiss-and-tell, lenticel, mangonel, muscatel, ne'er-do-well, Neuchâtel, Neufchâtel, New Rochelle, nonpareil, organelle, oversell, pedicel, pennoncel, personnel, petronel, Philomel, pimpernel, rebel yell, red blood cell, Sanctus bell, San Rafael, São Miguel, show-and-tell, sickle cell, silver bell, solar cell, tortoiseshell, undersell, villanelle, white blood cell, William Tell, zinfandel