English Explanatory Dictionary

parallel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Equally distant from one another at all points.
Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".
Either not intersecting, or coinciding.
Involving the processing of multiple tasks at the same time.
Analogous, similar, comparable.
Coexisting but normally not interacting with the regular reality.

adv

With a parallel relationship.

noun

One of a set of parallel lines.
Direction conformable to that of another line.
A line of latitude.
An arrangement of electrical components such that a current flows along two or more paths; see in parallel.
Something identical or similar in essential respects.
A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity.
One of a series of long trenches constructed before a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the fortress.
A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines, used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page.

verb

To construct or place something parallel to something else.
Of a path etc: To be parallel to something else.
Of a process etc: To be analogous to something else.
To compare or liken something to something else.
To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, etc.
To equal; to match; to correspond to.
To produce or adduce as a parallel.

Pronunciation

/ˈpæ.ɹəˌlɛl/ En-us-ne-parallel.ogg En-us-parallel.ogg /ˈpærᵊ.ləl/ En-in-parallel.ogg

Word forms

parallel paralell more parallel most parallel parallels paralleling parallelling[UK nonstandard] paralleled parallelled[UK nonstandard]

Etymology

From Middle French parallèle and its etymon Latin parallēlus, parallēlos. The verb is from the noun. By surface analysis, par- + all- + -el.

Antonyms

Related words

parallax parallelly sequential ∥

Derived words

autoparallel biparallel embarrassingly parallel frontoparallel hyperparallel massively parallel multiparallel nonparallel parallelable parallel axis theorem parallel bars parallel citation parallel compression parallel cousin parallel dead space parallel giant slalom parallel gill trama parallel immersion parallel import parallelisation parallelise parallelistic parallelity parallelization parallelize parallel key parallelless parallel motion parallelness parallelohedron parallel palette parallel park parallel parking parallel play parallel port parallel postulate parallel processing parallel ruler parallel slalom parallel society parallel text parallel thinking parallel transport parallelwise parallel world plane-parallel planoparallel pseudoparallel quasiparallel subparallel superparallel teleparallel ultraparallel unparallel antiparallel forty-ninth parallel imparalleled parallel algorithm parallel circuit parallel computing

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