WordLens

parallel

1 of 4adjective
/ˈpɛ.rə.ˌlɛl/
1

having an equal distance from each other at every point

B2
  • The two lines on the graph are parallel, indicating no change in their relationship.
  • She parked her car parallel to the curb.
  • The beams of sunlight created parallel lines on the floor.
  • The two walls are parallel in the room.
  • The railroad tracks are parallel to each other.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
2

occurring at the same time but independently of each other

  • There were parallel developments in technology across different parts of the world during the 20th century.
  • The parallel investigations by two different agencies led to conflicting conclusions.
  • The two events happened in parallel, with each taking place in different locations.
  • The parallel timelines in the movie showed the characters experiencing similar situations at the same time.
  • The parallel development of the two projects meant that both teams worked on their own without overlap.
3

having a comparable nature, structure, or function to something else

  • Their experiences in different countries were surprisingly parallel.
  • The novel explores themes that are parallel to those in the author’s earlier work.
  • The challenges faced by the two companies were parallel in many ways.
  • The students' arguments were parallel, reflecting a shared perspective.
  • The economic trends of these regions have been largely parallel over the last decade.
4

transmitting multiple pieces of data at the same time using a connection with several pathways

  • The system uses parallel communication to handle high-speed data transfers.
  • The printer used a parallel connection for transmitting instructions.
  • Parallel interfaces are common in older computer systems.
  • Engineers tested the parallel data transfer for efficiency.
  • Parallel communication reduces the time needed for large file transfers.