parallel - Definition | Dictionary definition of parallel

Definition of parallel

being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting

"parallel lines never converge"

"concentric circles are parallel"

"dancers in two parallel rows"

Synonyms:: comparable
able to be compared or worthy of comparison; symmetric, symmetrical
having similarity in size, shape, and relative position of corresponding parts; antiparallel
(especially of vectors) parallel but oppositely directed; collateral
situated or running side by side; nonconvergent, nonintersecting
(of lines, planes, or surfaces) never meeting or crossing

Antonyms:: perpendicular
intersecting at or forming right angles; normal
forming a right angle; orthogonal, rectangular
having a set of mutually perpendicular axes; meeting at right angles; right
having the axis perpendicular to the base; oblique
slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled; convergent
tending to come together from different directions; divergent, diverging
tending to move apart in different directions; inclined
at an angle to the horizontal or vertical position; bias
slanting diagonally across the grain of a fabric; cata-cornered, catacorner, cater-cornered, catercorner, catty-corner, catty-cornered, kitty-corner, kitty-cornered
slanted across a polygon on a diagonal line; crabwise, sideways
(of movement) at an angle; diagonal
connecting two nonadjacent corners of a plane figure or any two corners of a solid that are not in the same face; nonparallel
(of e.g. lines or paths) not parallel; converging; oblique-angled
having oblique angles; show more antonyms...

of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations

"parallel processing"

Synonyms:: synchronal, synchronic, synchronous
occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase

something having the property of being analogous to something else

an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator

Examples:: show 4 examples...; hide 4 examples...; Antarctic Circle
a line of latitude north of the south pole; Arctic Circle
a line of latitude near but to the south of the north pole; it marks the northernmost point at which the sun is visible on the northern winter solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the northern summer solstice; Tropic of Cancer
a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator; Tropic of Capricorn
a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the south of the equator

Types:: polar circle
a line of latitude at the north or south poles; horse latitude
either of two belts or regions near 30 degrees north or 30 degrees south; characterized by calms and light-baffling winds; tropic
either of two parallels of latitude about 23.5 degrees to the north and south of the equator representing the points farthest north and south at which the sun can shine directly overhead and constituting the boundaries of the Torrid Zone or tropics