# parallel

/ˈpɛɹəˌɫɛɫ/ (US) · /pˈæɹəlˌɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parallel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. geometry/lines

adjective · CEFR B1

describing two lines that stay the same distance apart and never touch.

For teachers: describing lines or planes that are equidistant at all points and never intersect.

- The train tracks run parallel to each other for miles.
- The architect ensured that the support beams remained perfectly parallel to the floor to maintain the structural integrity of the glass ceiling.

### 2. similar or matching

adjective · CEFR B2

happening at the same time or being very similar.

For teachers: occurring simultaneously or having a similar development, nature, or tendency.

- The two countries followed parallel paths toward economic growth.
- The researchers noted parallel developments in both test groups, despite the different environmental variables introduced at the start of the study.

### 3. computing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

doing many tasks at the same time using different parts of a computer.

For teachers: relating to the simultaneous execution of multiple operations or tasks by a computer system.

- Parallel processing allows the computer to handle complex graphics quickly.
- By utilizing parallel computing architectures, the laboratory was able to reduce the data processing time from weeks to mere hours.

### 4. a similarity

noun · CEFR B2

a way in which two things are similar or can be compared.

For teachers: a person or thing that is similar or analogous to another; a comparison that highlights such similarities.

- It is easy to see a parallel between this movie and the book.
- Historians often draw a parallel between the fall of the Roman Empire and the decline of modern superpowers.

### 5. geography

noun · CEFR B2

an imaginary line around the Earth that is parallel to the equator.

For teachers: an imaginary circle on the earth's surface that is parallel to the plane of the equator, marking latitude.

- The 38th parallel is a famous border between North and South Korea.
- The expedition crossed the 45th parallel, marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole.

### 6. to be similar to

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to be very similar to something else or to happen at the same time.

For teachers: to be similar to or to correspond with something; to run in the same direction as something else.

- The rise in prices parallels the increase in the cost of fuel.
- The author's personal life often parallels the struggles of the characters in her novels, suggesting a strong autobiographical influence.

## Examples

- There is a clear parallel between these two stories.
- Economists often draw a parallel between the current market crash and the financial crisis of the late 1920s.
- While the two cultures developed on opposite sides of the globe, historians have noted a striking parallel in their early agricultural techniques and social hierarchies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.