parallel

Meanings

Adjective

• 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.

Adverb

• 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.

Related

Opposite words

• antiparallel
• perpendicular
• skew

Origin

• From Middle French parallèle, borrowed from Latin parallelus.