parallel
gb/pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/ us/pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/
A2
English
~ 4000
párhuzamos, párhuzam, párhuzamot mutat, szélességi kör
A2
1
párhuzamos
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is parallel to [something]
The two roads run parallel for several miles.
A két út több mérföldön át párhuzamosan halad.
These train tracks are perfectly parallel.
Ezek a vasúti sínek tökéletesen párhuzamosak.
Her desk is parallel to the window.
The river runs parallel to the highway.
The walls are not parallel, which makes the room look crooked.
Learner examples
The two streets are parallel.
A két utca párhuzamos.
The lines on the paper are parallel.
A papíron lévő vonalak párhuzamosak.
The river is parallel to the road.
These chairs are parallel to the wall.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'parallel' with 'equal', but 'parallel' refers to direction and spacing, not numerical equality.
Meaning
Side by side, equal distance apart
Collocations
parallel lines
|parallel roads
|run parallel
|parallel tracks
|parallel paths
Synonyms
aligned (Indicates things arranged in a straight line but not necessarily equally spaced apart.)
Antonyms
intersecting (Describes lines or paths that cross each other at some point.)
Themes
geometry
|description
|navigation
|science
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going in the same direction and always the same distance apart.
Extending in the same direction, always the same distance apart, and never meeting.
NOUN
B1
2
párhuzam
B2
Usage pattern:
draw a parallel between [something] and [something]
Many critics draw parallels between the two films.
Sok kritikus párhuzamot von a két film között.
There is a close parallel between her life and the novel's main character.
Szoros párhuzam van az élete és a regény főszereplőjének élete között.
History offers some interesting parallels to our current situation.
The teacher drew a parallel between the story and real-life events.
Learner examples
The book has many parallels with his life.
A könyv sok párhuzamot mutat az életével.
We can draw a parallel between these two cases.
Párhuzamot vonhatunk e két eset között.
There is no parallel to this event.
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'parallel' here to mean 'exact copy'; it usually means 'similar but not identical'.
Meaning
A similarity or comparison
Collocations
draw a parallel
|find a parallel
|close parallel
|interesting parallel
Synonyms
analogy (Often used for explanatory comparisons, especially in reasoning.)
Antonyms
contrast (Highlights differences rather than similarities.)
Themes
comparison
|analysis
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that is very similar to another thing.
A situation, fact, or quality that is similar to something else.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[something] parallels [something]
Her career path closely parallels her sister's.
Szakmai pályája szoros párhuzamot mutat a testvéréével.
The rise in prices parallels the increase in demand.
Az árak emelkedése párhuzamosan alakul a kereslet növekedésével.
This story parallels events from his own life.
Learner examples
His job parallels my job.
Az ő munkája párhuzamot mutat az enyémmel.
The film parallels her real life.
A film párhuzamot mutat a valódi életével.
The changes in our city parallel those in other cities.
Meaning
To be similar to something
Collocations
parallels the experience
|parallels developments
|parallels history
Synonyms
mirror (Emphasizes exact reflection or imitation rather than general similarity.)
Antonyms
differ from (Indicates being unlike or dissimilar.)
Themes
comparison
|communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be very much like something else.
To be similar or closely related in form, quality, or time to something else.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
The 38th parallel divides North and South Korea.
A 38. szélességi kör választja el Észak- és Dél-Koreát.
The city lies just north of the 45th parallel.
A város közvetlenül a 45. szélességi körtől északra fekszik.
Explorers crossed several important parallels on their journey.
Learner examples
The equator is the most famous parallel.
Az Egyenlítő a legismertebb szélességi kör.
The 49th parallel is between Canada and the USA.
A 49. szélességi kör Kanada és az USA között húzódik.
This city is near the 40th parallel.
Meaning
Circle of latitude on Earth
Collocations
the 49th parallel
|north parallel
Synonyms
latitude line (A more descriptive term used in geography for parallels.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|space
|education
Definition
An imaginary line around the Earth that shows how far north or south a place is from the equator.
Any of the imaginary horizontal lines circling the Earth that are parallel to the equator, used in geography to indicate latitude.
Grammar
Dictionary form
parallel
IPA
GB/pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/
US/pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/
Syllables & stress
par - al - lel (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (par)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: parallel
Noun
- Base: parallel
- Plural: parallel, parallels
Verb
- Base: parallel
- 3rd Person Singular: parallels
- Present Participle: paralleling, parallelling
- Past: paralleled, parallelled
Word family
Forms
parallels
noun
paralleling
verb
parallelling
verb
paralleled
verb
parallelled
verb
Related words
parallelogram
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonparallel
adjective
Advanced or less common
parallelism
noun C1
unparalleled
adjective
Expressions
draw a parallel
1/dɹˈɔ ə pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/
fixed phrase
Compare two things for similarity
To show how two things are similar.
Examples
- It’s easy to draw a parallel between their experiences.
- Historians often draw a parallel between past and present events.
in parallel
1/ˈɪn pˈɛɹəlˌɛl/
fixed phrase
Happening at the same time independently
When two or more things happen at the same time but separately.
Examples
- The two projects will run in parallel over the next year.
- She is studying and working in parallel.
parallel parking
1/pˈɛɹəlˌɛl pˈɑɹkɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Parking along curb in line with others
Putting your car next to the sidewalk in a line with other cars.
Examples
- Parallel parking can be tricky for new drivers.
- He failed his driving test because of poor parallel parking.