from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Parallel \Par"al*lel\, n.
1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant
from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc.
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Who made the spider parallels design,
Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line ? --Pope.
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2. Direction conformable to that of another line,
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Lines that from their parallel decline. --Garth.
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3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all
essential points; resemblance; similarity.
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Twixt earthly females and the moon
All parallels exactly run. --Swift.
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4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as,
Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
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5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential
particulars; a counterpart.
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None but thyself can be thy parallel. --Pope.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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}.
Note: 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.
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