Word: Parallel

Pronunciation

/ˈpærəlel/

Definitions

• Noun: A straight line that never meets another straight line no matter how far they are extended in either direction. Example: “The railway tracks run parallel to the highway.”
  • Also used metaphorically to mean things that are similar or comparable in certain respects. Example: “Their careers have run in parallel paths.”
• Adjective: (1) Describing lines or surfaces that do not meet no matter how far extended. Example: “The sides of this triangle are parallel to each other.”
  • (2) Describing events or processes that occur at the same time or develop similarly without direct interaction. Example: “The two countries were experiencing parallel economic growth.”
• Verb: (parallelise, parallels, paralleled; British English: parallelise, parallelises, parallelised) To make or place something alongside something else, often with the intention of comparing or contrasting them. Example: “Her research parallels his findings on the subject.”

Phrases

• “Parallel universe”: A hypothetical self-contained reality coexisting with one’s own.
• “Run parallel to”: To extend alongside or be concurrent with something.
• “In parallel”: Happening at the same time or concurrently, especially referring to tasks or processes.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The architect designed the building with walls that had several parallel lines running across them.”
• Adjective: “Their experiences during the war ran in parallel, both facing similar hardships and triumphs.”
• Verb: “Her latest project parallels the work done by her predecessor, though with some innovative twists.”

Synonyms

• Adjective: Comparable, corresponding, matching, equivalent, alike
• Verb: Match, correspond, correlate, echo, resemble