parallel: meaning and definitions

Being an equal distance apart everywhere: dancers in two parallel rows. See Usage Note at absolute.

Mathematics Of, relating to, or designating two or more straight coplanar lines that do not intersect.

Mathematics Of, relating to, or designating two or more planes that do not intersect.

Mathematics Of, relating to, or designating a line and a plane that do not intersect.

Mathematics Of, relating to, or designating curves or surfaces everywhere equidistant.

Having comparable parts, analogous aspects, or readily recognized similarities: the parallel lives of two contemporaries.

Having the same tendency or direction: parallel motives and aims.

Grammar Having identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases.

Music Moving in the same direction at a fixed interval: parallel motion; parallel fifths.

Music Having the same tonic. Used of scales and keys: C minor is the parallel minor scale of C major.

Electronics Denoting a circuit or part of a circuit connected in parallel.

Computer Science Of or relating to the simultaneous transmission of all the bits of a byte over separate wires: a parallel port; a parallel interface.

Computer Science Of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations: parallel processing.

In a parallel relationship or manner: a road and a railway that run parallel.

Mathematics One of a set of parallel geometric figures, such as lines or planes.

One that closely resembles or is analogous to another: a unique event, without parallel in history.

A comparison indicating likeness; an analogy.

The condition of being parallel; near similarity or exact agreement in particulars; parallelism.

Any of the imaginary lines representing degrees of latitude that encircle the earth parallel to the plane of the equator.

Printing A sign indicating material referred to in a note or reference.

Electronics An arrangement of components in a circuit that splits the current into two or more paths. Used chiefly in the phrase in parallel.

To make or place parallel to something else: paralleled the ditch to the highway.

To be or extend parallel to: a trail that parallels the crater rim.

To be similar or analogous to: claimed that fetal development parallels the evolution of the species.

To be or provide an equal for; match.