parallel

a. [ F. parallèle, L. parallelus, fr. Gr. &unr_;; para` beside + &unr_; of one another, fr. &unr_; other, akin to L. alius. See Alien. ] 1. (Geom.) Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel when they are in all parts equally distant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; -- used with to and with. [ 1913 Webster ]

When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Parallel bar. (a) (Steam Eng.) A rod in a parallel motion which is parallel with the working beam. (b) One of a pair of bars raised about five feet above the floor or ground, and parallel to each other, -- used for gymnastic exercises. --
Parallel circles of a sphere, those circles of the sphere whose planes are parallel to each other. --
Parallel columns, or
Parallels (Printing), two or more passages of reading matter printed side by side, for the purpose of emphasizing the similarity or discrepancy between them. --
Parallel forces (Mech.), forces which act in directions parallel to each other. --
Parallel motion. (a) (Mach.) A jointed system of links, rods, or bars, by which the motion of a reciprocating piece, as a piston rod, may be guided, either approximately or exactly in a straight line. Rankine. (b) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more parts at fixed intervals, as thirds or sixths. --
Parallel rod (Locomotive Eng.), a metal rod that connects the crank pins of two or more driving wheels; -- called also couping rod, in distinction from the connecting rod. See Illust. of Locomotive, in App. --
Parallel ruler, an instrument for drawing parallel lines, so constructed as to have the successive positions of the ruling edge parallel to each other; also, one consisting of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are always parallel. --
Parallel sailing (Naut.), sailing on a parallel of latitude. --
Parallel sphere (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole. --
Parallel vise, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain parallel in all positions. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who made the spider parallels design,
Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line ? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Direction conformable to that of another line, [ 1913 Webster ]

Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Twixt earthly females and the moon
All parallels exactly run. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart. [ 1913 Webster ]

None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (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; as, the counry was divided into North and South at the 38th parallel. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

7. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Elec.) That arrangement of an electrical system in which all positive poles, electrodes, terminals, etc., are joined to one conductor, and all negative poles, etc., to another conductor; -- called also multiple. Opposed to series.

☞ Parts of a system so arranged are said to be
in parallel or
in multiple. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Limiting parallels. See under Limit, v. t. --
Parallel of altitude (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar. --
Parallel of declination (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator. --
Parallel of latitude. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being paralleled, or equaled. [ R. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geometry) A prism whose bases are parallelograms.
Syn. -- parallelopiped, parallelepipedon, parallelopipedon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Geometry) Same as parallelepiped.
Syn. -- parallelepiped, parallelopiped, parallelopipedon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to place side by side, or parallel: cf. F. parallélisme. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being parallel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Resemblance; correspondence; similarity. [ 1913 Webster ]

A close parallelism of thought and incident. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Similarity of construction or meaning of clauses placed side by side, especially clauses expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, as is common in Hebrew poetry; e. g.: --

At her feet he bowed, he fell:
Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Judg. v. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of a parallelism; involving parallelism. [ 1913 Webster ]

The antithetic or parallelistic form of Hebrew poetry is entirely lost. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]