Meaning & Definition of word "Parallel"
to
Parallel
/ˈpærəˌlɛl/
noun:
- 1. A person or thing that is similar or analogous to another.
- Example: Her career has many parallels to that of her mentor.
- 2. A line or plane that is equidistant from another line or plane at all points.
- Example: The equator is a parallel of latitude.
verb:
- 1. To be similar or analogous to something.
- Example: The author's life parallels that of the protagonist in the story.
- 2. To arrange or draw lines or objects parallel to each other.
- Example: She decided to parallel the roads for better navigation.
adjective:
- 1. Extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never meeting.
- Example: The two lines on the graph are parallel to each other.
- 2. Similar or analogous in some way.
- Example: There are many parallel themes in both novels.
Etymology
From Middle English 'paralel', from Old French 'parallele', from Latin 'parallelus', from Greek 'parallēlos' ('para' - beside, and 'allēlos' - each other).
Common Phrases and Expressions
parallel universe:
A hypothetical separate reality that exists alongside our own.
run parallel to:
To be similar to or occur simultaneously with something else.
parallel lines:
Lines in a plane that do not meet; they are always the same distance apart.
Related Words
perpendicular:
Intersecting at or forming right angles.
converge:
To tend to meet at a point.
line:
A straight one-dimensional figure having no thickness and extending infinitely in both directions.
Slang Meanings of parallel
Meaning: In sync or on the same wavelength.
Example Sentence: We’re totally parallel in our thinking about this project.
Meaning: To draw a comparison or analogy.
Example Sentence: You can parallel what we did last time with this new approach.