parallel Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun something having the property of being analogous to something else
analogue; analog.
noun an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
latitude; parallel of latitude; line of latitude.
noun (mathematics) one of a set of parallel geometric figures (parallel lines or planes)
- parallels never meet
verb be parallel to
- Their roles are paralleled by ours
verb make or place parallel to something
collimate.
- They paralleled the ditch to the highway
verb duplicate or match
twin; duplicate.
- The polished surface twinned his face and chest in reverse
adjective being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
- parallel lines never converge
- concentric circles are parallel
- dancers in two parallel rows
adjective satellite of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations
- parallel processing

F. parallèle, L. parallelus, fr. Gr. beside + of one another, fr. other, akin to L. alius. See Allien.

(Geom.) Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes.
Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial. Hakluyt.
✍ Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel when they are in all parts equally distant.
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.
Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage. Addison.

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.
Direction conformable to that of another line,
Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth.
Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity.
Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. Swift.
A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart.
None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope.
(Geog.) 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.
(Mil.) 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.
(Print.) 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.

imperfect & past participle Paralleled ; present participle & verbal noun Paralleling

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.
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.
To equal; to match; to correspond to. Shak.
To produce or adduce as a parallel. R. Locke.
My young remembrance can not parallel A fellow to it. Shak.