-
> - Dictionary >
- Parallel - meaning & definition
Translate text 
Translate files Parallel
/ˈpærəˌlɛl/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A person or thing that is similar or analogous to another.
Her career has many parallels to that of her mentor.
A line or plane that is equidistant from another line or plane at all points.
The equator is a parallel of latitude.
verb
To be similar or analogous to something.
The author's life parallels that of the protagonist in the story.
To arrange or draw lines or objects parallel to each other.
She decided to parallel the roads for better navigation.
adjective
Extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never meeting.
The two lines on the graph are parallel to each other.
Similar or analogous in some way.
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
In sync or on the same wavelength.
We’re totally parallel in our thinking about this project.
To draw a comparison or analogy.
You can parallel what we did last time with this new approach.