PARALLEL

parallel

(adjective) being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting; “parallel lines never converge”; “concentric circles are parallel”; “dancers in two parallel rows”

parallel

(adjective) of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations; “parallel processing”

analogue, analog, parallel

(noun) something having the property of being analogous to something else

latitude, line of latitude, parallel of latitude, parallel

(noun) an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator

parallel

(noun) (mathematics) one of a set of parallel geometric figures (parallel lines or planes); “parallels never meet”

parallel, collimate

(verb) make or place parallel to something; “They paralleled the ditch to the highway”

parallel

(verb) be parallel to; “Their roles are paralleled by ours”

twin, duplicate, parallel

(verb) duplicate or match; “The polished surface twinned his face and chest in reverse”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

parallel (not comparable)

Equally distant from one another at all points.

Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".

(hyperbolic geometry, said of a pair of lines) Either not intersecting, or coinciding.

(computing) Involving the processing of multiple tasks at the same time.

Antonyms

• (geometry) perpendicular, skew

• serial

Adverb

parallel (comparative more parallel, superlative most parallel)

With a parallel relationship.

Noun

parallel (plural parallels)

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.

(military) 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.

(printing) 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.

Antonyms

• perpendicular, skew (?)

Verb

parallel (third-person singular simple present parallels, present participle (UK) parallelling or (US) paralleling, simple past and past participle (UK) parallelled or (US) paralleled)

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.

Source: Wiktionary


Par"al*lel, a. Etym: [F. parallèle, L. parallelus, fr. Gr. alius. See Allien.]

1. (Geom.)

Definition: Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes. Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial. Hakluyt.

Note: Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel when they are in all parts equally distant.

2. Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; -- used with to and with. When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished. Addison.

3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage. Addison. Parallel bar. (a) (Steam Eng.) A rod in a parallel motion which is parallel with the working beam. (b) One of a pair of bars raised about five feet above the floor or ground, and parallel to each other, -- used for gymnastic exercises.

– Parallel circles of a sphere, those circles of the sphere whose planes are parallel to each other.

– Parallel columns, or Parallels (Printing), two or more passages of reading matter printed side by side, for the purpose of emphasizing the similarity or discrepancy between them.

– Parallel forces (Mech.), forces which act in directions parallel to each other.

– Parallel motion. (a) (Mach.) A jointed system of links, rods, or bars, by which the motion of a reciprocating piece, as a piston rod, may be guided, either approximately or exactly in a straight line. Rankine. (b) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more parts at fixed intervals, as thirds or sixths.

– Parallel rod (Locomotive Eng.), a metal rod that connects the crank pins of two or more driving wheels; -- called also couping rod, in distinction from the connecting rod. See Illust. of Locomotive, in App.

– Parallel ruler, an instrument for drawing parallel lines, so constructed as to have the successive positions of the ruling edge parallel to each other; also, one consisting of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are always parallel.

– Parallel sailing (Naut.), sailing on a parallel of latitude.

– Parallel sphere (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole.

– Parallel vise, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain parallel in all positions.

Par"al*lel, n.

1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc. Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line Pope.

2. Direction conformable to that of another line, Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth.

3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity. Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. Swift.

4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.

5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart. None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope.

6. (Geog.)

Definition: One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth, parallel to the equator, marking the latitude; also, the corresponding line on a globe or map.

7. (Mil.)

Definition: 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.

8. (Print.)

Definition: A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines (thus, ) used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page. Limiting parallels. See under Limit, v. t.

– Parallel of altitude (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar.

– Parallel of declination (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator.

– Parallel of latitude. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic.

Par"al*lel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralleled; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralleling.]

1. To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else. The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian. Sir T. Browne.

2. Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, or the like. His life is paralleled Even with the stroke and line of his great justice. Shak.

3. To equal; to match; to correspond to. Shak.

4. To produce or adduce as a parallel. [R.] Locke. My young remembrance can not parallel A fellow to it. Shak.

Par"al*lel, v. i.

Definition: To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [Obs.] Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

29 April 2024

SUBDUCTION

(noun) a geological process in which one edge of a crustal plate is forced sideways and downward into the mantle below another plate


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