a person or thing that is closely similar or comparable to another person or thing
Noun:
something having the property of being analogous to something elsean imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equatormathematics one of a set of parallel geometric figures parallel lines or planes;parallels never meet
Adjective:
being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting;parallel lines never converge
concentric circles are parallel
dancers in two parallel rows
of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations;parallel processing
Verb:
be parallel to;Their roles are paralleled by ours
make or place parallel to something;They paralleled the ditch to the highway
duplicate or match;The polished surface twinned his face and chest in reverse
adj.形容词
parallel, alike, comparable, similar这组词都可表示“某人或物在某些方面或某种程度上相同”。其区别是：
similar和alike指整体或某部分相似,用法一样,可互换。但alike暗示的相似程度比similar稍高; comparable指可以放在一起并提或检查的相似物或人; parallel则用在实际上或表面上相似的事物或用于表示其在发展、结构、历史、操作、趋势等方面极其相似。例如:
These two buildings are similar〔alike〕 in size and shape.这两座建筑物的大小和形状相似。
The two cousins are alike in age, but otherwise as different as day and night.这对表兄弟年龄相仿而在其他方面却大相径庭。
The music of Berlin is scarcely comparable to that of Beethoven.柏林的音乐与贝多芬的作品不可同日而语。
Can you name any parallel passages in the composer's first and second symphonies?你能指出作曲家第一、第二交响曲中相似的乐段吗?alike，like，similar，comparable，parallel，uniform，identical这些形容词均有“相似的，类似的”之意。
alike指事物在性质、特征或外貌上固有的而不是偶然的相似。普通用词，只作表语。
like普通用词，含义广泛，指多个或全部特性都相似，但并非同一个，也可指在某个特殊的偶然相似。
similar强调不同的人或事物之间完全或部分相似，暗示可暂不考虑或无视其差异之处。
comparable指在某一点或几点上有相似之处，可作有限或粗略的对比，尤指在价值或能力等方面可相提并论。
parallel主要指在外表或在性质上相似到有可以相提并论的程度。
uniform指在性质、数量、形态或程度等方面相似到很难看出差异的地步。
identical语气最强，可指同一个人或物，也可指数个人或物之间完全没有差别。
16世纪40年代进入英语，直接源自中古法语的中古法语；最初源自古希腊语的paraallelois：para 边上） +allelois (互相），意为相互接近。
用作形容词 (adj.
～+名词parallel case〔experience〕类似的事情〔经验〕～+介词parallel to〔with〕与…平行的用作名词 n.动词+～afford a parallel提供了相似性bear a parallel to与…相似draw a parallel between在…之间作出比较draw a parallel with与…相比find parallels among在…三者以上之中找出类似的事例have no parallel in modern times现今无与伦比形容词+～close parallel极其相似historic parallel历史的类比striking parallel鲜明的对比介词+～in parallel with与…同时地,与…平行on a parallel with与…同等地without a parallel in history史无前例
用作动词v.parallel with与…作比较compare sth with sth
parallel sth with sthYou'd better parallel this book with that one carefully.你最好仔细地把这本书与那本书作一番比较。近义词 equallikenessidenticalcomparableadj. alikebe similar tomatchv. be alikesimilarn. comparison反义词 differcontrastingadj. contradictorydifferentn. oppositeunlikenessv. be unlike
用作形容词adj.
用作定语
～+ n.There are two parallel lines.这有两条平行线。
This is the parallel points in the characters of different men.这就是不同人物间个性上的类似之处。
用作表语
S+be+～These two roads are parallel.这两条路是平行的。
Concentric spheres are parallel.同心球面是平行的。
The growth of the two towns was almost parallel.这两个城镇的发展几乎相同。S+be+～+ prep .-phraseThe railway runs parallel with the railway.这条铁路与那条铁路平行。
My findings in this matter are parallel to yours.我在这个问题上的发现与你相似。
He was parallel with the beggars.他跟乞丐差不多。用作名词n.This line is a parallel with that one.这条线和那条线平行。
He is a parallel to Mr.Brown in promoting the product.在推销这类产品方面他可以和布朗先生匹配。
He is following a brilliant career without a parallel in modern times.他正从事着举世无双的辉煌事业。
There are some interesting parallels between the educational systems of these two countries.这两国的教育制度之间有些有趣的相似之处。
This city is close to the fortieth parallel of north latitude.这个城市靠近北纬40度。用作动词v.
用作及物动词
S+～+ n./pron.The street parallels the railroad.这条街与铁路平行。
Your experience parallels my own.你的经历与我的相似。
No one has paralleled his success business.没有人赶得上他在事业上的成就。
adj.形容词
parallel用作形容词时,没有比较级与最高级形式。
形容词59%,动词36%,名词3%,副词2%
用作形容词In theparallelworld, there might be an answer for everything.在平行世界里,似乎有一切的答案。
The railway lines runparallelto the road.铁路线和那条道路平行。
My experience in this matter isparallelto yours.在这件事情上，我的经验和你的类似。
My experience in selling isparallelto yours.在销售方面,我的经验和你相仿。
Japan's macroeconomic puzzle has a microeconomicparallel.日本的宏观经济难题是与其微观经济并联的。
Elements may be connected inparallel, series, or any combination thereof.这些硅碳棒可以是并联的，串连的，或者是串并混联的。用作名词It is inappropriate to draw such aparallel.这种比拟是不恰当的。
The trees stand inparallelwith the road.这些树与公路平行。
The gymnast swung on theparallelbars.体操运动员在双杠上摆动身子。
The accuracy of theparallelincreased.这种比拟变得愈来愈确切了。用作及物动词No one canparallelhim in Math.在数学方面无人能与他匹敌。
Actually no one canparallelhim in poetry.实际上，在诗歌方面无人能同他相提并论。
Her experiencesparallelmine in many instances.她的经历多与我的相似。
Theyparallelwith one another.他们相互平行。