Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense parallels, present participle parallelling, past tense, past participle parallelledregional note: in AM, use paralleling, paralleled
1. countable noun
If something has a parallel, it is similar to something else, but exists or happens in a different place or at a different time. If it has no parallel or is without parallel, it is not similar to anything else.
Readers familiar with English history will find a vague parallel to the suppressionof the monasteries. [+ to]
It's an ecological disaster with no parallel anywhere else in the world.
...an achievement without parallel in the modern era.
Synonyms: equivalent, counterpart, match, equal More Synonyms of parallel
2. countable noun
If there are parallels between two things, they are similar in some ways.
Detailed study of folk music from a variety of countries reveals many close parallels.
There are significant parallels with the 1980s.
Friends of the dead lawyer were quick to draw a parallel between the two murders. [+ between]
[Also + to/with]
Synonyms: similarity, correspondence, correlation, comparison More Synonyms of parallel
3. verb
If one thing parallels another, they happen at the same time or are similar, and often seem to be connected.
Often there are emotional reasons paralleling the financial ones. [VERB noun]
His remarks paralleled those of the president. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: correspond to, compare with, agree with, complement More Synonyms of parallel
4. adjective
Parallel events or situations happen at the same time as one another, or are similar to one another.
...parallel talks between the two countries' Foreign Ministers.
Their instincts do not always run parallel with ours. [+ with]
This is a real world, running parallel to our own.
[Also + to]
5. adjective
If two lines, two objects, or two lines of movement are parallel, they are the same distance apart along their whole length.
...seventy-two ships, drawn up in two parallel lines.
Farthing Lane's just above the High Street and parallel with it. [+ with]
This trail was roughly parallel to the border.
[Also + to]
Synonyms: equidistant, alongside, aligned, side by side More Synonyms of parallel
6. countable noun
A parallel is an imaginary line round the Earth that is parallel to the equator. Parallels areshown on maps.
...the area south of the 38th parallel.
7.
See in parallel
More Synonyms of parallel
parallel in British English
(ˈpærəˌlɛl)
adjective(whenpostpositive, usually foll by to)
1.
separated by an equal distance at every point; never touching or intersecting
parallel walls
2.
corresponding; similar
parallel situations
3. music
a. Also: consecutive
(of two or more parts or melodies) moving in similar motion but keeping the same interval apart throughout
parallel fifths
b.
denoting successive chords in which the individual notes move in parallel motion
4. grammar
denoting syntactic constructions in which the constituents of one construction correspond to those of the other
5. computing
operating on several items of information, instructions, etc, simultaneously
Compare serial (sense 6)
noun
6. mathematics
one of a set of parallel lines, planes, etc
7.
an exact likeness
8.
a comparison
9. Also called: parallel of latitude
any of the imaginary lines around the earth parallel to the equator, designated by degrees of latitude ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles
10.
a.
a configuration of two or more electrical components connected between two points in a circuit so that the same voltage is applied to each (esp in the phrase in parallel)
b.
(as modifier)
a parallel circuit
series (sense 6)
11. printing
the character (∥) used as a reference mark
12.
a trench or line lying in advance of and parallel to other defensive positions
verbWord forms: -lels, -leling or -leled(transitive)
13.
to make parallel
14.
to supply a parallel to
15.
to be a parallel to or correspond with
your experience parallels mine
Word origin
C16: via French and Latin from Greek parallēlos alongside one another, from para-1 + allēlos one another
parallel in American English
(ˈpærəˌlɛl; ˈpærələl)
adjective
1.
extending in the same direction and at the same distance apart at every point, so as neverto meet, as lines, planes, etc.
2.
having parallel parts or movements, as some machines, tools, etc.
3.
a.
closely similar or corresponding, as in purpose, tendency, time, or essential parts
b.
characterized by a balanced or coordinated arrangement of syntactic elements, esp. of phrases or clauses
“I came, I saw, I conquered” is an example of parallel structure
4. Computing
a.
of or for the transmission of data, by means of several wires, a byte or more at a time
a parallel port
b.
having to do with the performing of multiple operations simultaneously
parallel processing
see also serial (sense 5)
5. Electricity
designating or of a circuit in parallel
6. Music
having consistently equal intervals in pitch, as two parts of harmony, a series of chords, etc.
adverb
7.
in a parallel manner
noun
8.
something parallel to something else, as a line or surface
9.
any person or thing essentially the same as, or closely corresponding to, another; counterpart
10.
the condition of being parallel; conformity in essential points
11.
any comparison showing the existence of similarity or likeness
12.
a.
any of the imaginary lines parallel to the equator and representing degrees of latitudeon the earth's surface
b.
such a line drawn on a map or globe
in full parallel of latitude
13. [pl.]
a sign (∥) used in printing as a reference mark
14. Electricity
an arrangement of devices in a circuit, in which two or more components have theirnegative terminals joined to one conductor and their positive to another, so that an identical potential difference is applied to each component
usually in the phrase in parallel see also series (sense 5)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈparalˌleled or ˈparalˌlelled, ˈparalˌleling or ˈparalˌlelling
15.
a.
to make (one thing) parallel to another
b.
to make parallel to each other
16.
to be parallel with; extend parallel to
a road that parallels the river
17.
to compare (things, ideas, etc.) in order to show similarity or likeness
18.
to be or find a counterpart for; match; equal
Word origin
Fr parallèle < L parallelus < Gr parallēlos < para-, side by side (see para-1) + allēlos, one another < allos, other: see else
Examples of 'parallel' in a sentence
parallel
There is some fun to be had in drawing contemporary parallels.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Knight draws a historical parallel to the discovery of essential nutrients.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
But while this uplifting story was taking place, a parallel one was unfolding.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They spend little time together and often lead parallel lives.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet the parallels between the references do not stop there.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Some parallels make more sense than others.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
You could be forgiven for thinking we have two parallel economic universes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The parallel between an experience with food and feeding and an interpersonal interaction was clearly established.
Bloom, Carol & Gitter, Andrea (contributor) & Gutwill, Susan (contributor) & Kogel,Laura (contributor) & Zaphiropoulos, Lela (contributor) Eating Problems: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Treatment Model (1994)
The parallels are too close for comfort.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The new budget line is parallel to the old budget line.
Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)
There is already one clear parallel between them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Of course the parallels cannot be exact.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Individual governments are working along parallel lines.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Does that gesture make the parallel more persuasive or less?
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
There were now two parallel strands in her life.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
The real world is very different from his parallel universe.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Fill from the garage excavation formed another bank parallel to the pool but higher up on the hillside.
Eddison, Sydney A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (1990)
No more holding your finger on one page while you try to find the parallel in another book on your desk.
Christianity Today (2000)
Some are scriptural references or parallels.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
There is a parallel with financial services, he says.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There were those who blamed the administration for crossing the 38th parallel.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Similarly, drawing parallels on change versus experience is almost as pointless.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Those details apart, the parallels were uncanny.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It also isn't entirely believable that two best friends should go through parallel experiences at exactly the same time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are parallel financial considerations.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The 38th parallel was crossed in early October.
Jenkins, Roy Truman (1986)
In other languages
parallel
British English: parallel /ˈpærəˌlɛl/ ADJECTIVE
eventsParallel events or situations happen at the same time as one another, or are similar to one another.
...parallel talks between the two countries' Foreign Ministers.
American English: parallel
Arabic: مُتَوَازِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: paralelo
Chinese: 平行的
Croatian: paralelan
Czech: rovnoběžný
Danish: parallel
Dutch: parallel
European Spanish: paralelo
Finnish: rinnakkainen
French: parallèle
German: parallel
Greek: παράλληλος
Italian: parallelo
Japanese: 平行の
Korean: 평행인
Norwegian: parallell
Polish: równoległy
European Portuguese: paralelo
Romanian: paralel
Russian: параллельный
Latin American Spanish: paralelo
Swedish: parallell
Thai: ขนาน
Turkish: paralel
Ukrainian: паралельний
Vietnamese: song song
British English: parallel NOUN
If something has a parallel, it is similar to something else, but exists or happens in a different place or at a different time. If it has no parallel or is without parallel, it is not similar to anything else.
Readers familiar with history will find a vague parallel to the war.
American English: parallel
Brazilian Portuguese: paralelo
Chinese: > 类似的事情存在或发生在不同地点或不同时间的
European Spanish: paralelo
French: parallèle
German: Parallele
Italian: parallelo
Japanese: 類似物
Korean: 필적하는 것
European Portuguese: paralelo
Latin American Spanish: paralelo
British English: parallel VERB
If one thing parallels another, they happen at the same time or are similar, and often seem to be connected.
Often there are emotional reasons paralleling the financial ones.
American English: parallel
Brazilian Portuguese: estar em paralelo com algo
Chinese: > 与...类似存在或发生在不同地点或不同时间的
European Spanish: ser paralelo
French: correspondre à
German: parallel laufen zu
Italian: affiancarsi a
Japanese: 同時に起きる
Korean: 필적하다
European Portuguese: estar em paralelo com algo
Latin American Spanish: ir en paralelo
British English: parallel ADJECTIVE
lines If two lines, two objects, or two lines of movement are parallel, they are the same distance apart along their whole length.
...seventy-two ships, drawn up in two parallel lines.
American English: parallel
Brazilian Portuguese: paralelo
Chinese: 平行的
European Spanish: paralelo
French: parallèle
German: parallel
Italian: parallelo
Japanese: 並行して
Korean: 평행한
European Portuguese: paralelo
Latin American Spanish: paralelo
Chinese translation of 'parallel'
parallel
(ˈpærəlɛl)
adj
[lines, walls, streets]平行的 (píngxíng de)
(fig)
(= similar) 相似的 (xiāngsì de)
(= simultaneous) 同时(時)的 (tóngshí de)
(Comput) 并(並)行的 (bìngxíng de)
n(c)
(= similarity) 相似 (xiāngsì)
(Geo) 纬(緯)度圈 (wěidùquān)
vt
与(與) ... 相似 (yǔ ... xiāngsì)
to be parallel to sth与(與)某物平行 (yǔ mǒuwù píngxíng)
to run parallel (with or to) (lit) (与(與) ... )平行 ((yǔ ... ) píngxíng) (fig) (与(與) ... )同时(時)发(發)生 ((yǔ ... ) tóngshí fāshēng)
in parallel (with sth)(与(與)某事)同时(時) ((yǔ mǒushì) tóngshí)