Parallel

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[编辑] 解释

I. adjective

Etymology: Latin parallelus, from Greek parallēlos, from para beside + allēlōn of one another, from allos…allos one…another, from allos other — more at else
Date: 1549
1.
- a. extending in the same direction, everywhere equidistant, and not meeting <parallel rows of trees>
- b. everywhere equally distant <concentric spheres are parallel>
2.
- a. having parallel sides <a parallel reamer>
- b. being or relating to an electrical circuit having a number of conductors in parallel
- c. arranged in parallel <a parallel processor>
- d. relating to or being a connection in a computer system in which the bits of a byte are transmitted over separate channels at the same time <a parallel port> — compare serial
3.
- a.
  - (1) similar, analogous, or interdependent in tendency or development
  - (2) exhibiting parallelism in form, function, or development <parallel evolution>
- b. readily compared ; companion
- c. having identical syntactical elements in corresponding positions; also being such an element
- d.
  - (1) having the same tonic — used of major and minor keys and scales
  - (2) keeping the same distance apart in musical pitch
4. performed while keeping one's skis parallel <parallel turns>
Synonyms: see similar

II. noun

Date: 1551
1.
- a. a parallel line, curve, or surface
- b. one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the latitude; also the corresponding line on a globe or map — see latitude illustration
- c. a character || used in printing especially as a reference mark
2.
- a. something equal or similar in all essential particulars ; counterpart
- b. similarity, analogue
3. a comparison to show resemblance
4.
- a. the state of being physically parallel
- b. an arrangement of electrical devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circuit — compare series
- c. ［trn］ an arrangement or state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously