different between identical vs parallel

English

Etymology

From identic +? -al.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??d?nt?kl?/, /a??d?nt?kl?/
• Hyphenation: i?den?ti?cal

Adjective

identical (comparative more identical, superlative most identical)

1. (not comparable) Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.
2. (not comparable) Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; numerically identical.
3. (not comparable, biology) Of twins, sharing the same genetic code.
4. (not comparable, mathematics) Exactly equivalent.
5. (comparable, rare) Approximating or approaching exact equivalence.
   • 1788, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, The Federalist, XLI:

     The terms of Article 8th are still more identical.

• For more quotations using this term, see Citations:identical.

Usage notes

• In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like "A and B are identical", "A is identical to B", and, less commonly, "A is identical with B".
• Adverbs often used with "identical": absolutely, almost, nearly, practically, virtually, substantially.

Synonyms

• (bearing full likeness): same
• (selfsame): same, selfsame

Antonyms

• contrasting
• different
• distinct
• non-identical

Coordinate terms

• (of twins): dizygotic

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

identical (plural identicals)

1. (usually pluralized, chiefly philosophy) Something which has exactly the same properties as something else.
2. An identical twin.

Derived terms

• indiscernibility of identicals

References

• identical in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• identical in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• identical at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• ctenidial, diclinate, dinetical

English

Etymology

From Middle French parallèle, borrowed from Latin parallelus.

Pronunciation

• enPR: p?r'?-l?l", IPA^(key): /?pæ???l?l/
• (Mary–marry–merry merger) enPR: per'?-l?l", IPA^(key): /?p????l?l/
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (Mary–marry–merry merger)

Adjective

parallel (not comparable)

1. Equally distant from one another at all points.
   • 1911, William Robert Martin, s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Navigation

     the instrument held with its plane roughly parallel to the equinoctial or celestial equato

2. Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".

   • When honour runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it cannot be too much cherished.

3. (hyperbolic geometry, said of a pair of lines) Either not intersecting, or coinciding.

   Antonyms: perpendicular, skew

4. (computing) Involving the processing of multiple tasks at the same time.

   Antonyms: serial, sequential

   Coordinate term: concurrent

Derived terms

• embarrassingly parallel
• parallelize

Translations

Adverb

parallel (comparative more parallel, superlative most parallel)

1. With a parallel relationship.

   The road runs parallel to the canal.

Related terms

• parallelly

Translations

Noun

parallel (plural parallels)

1. One of a set of parallel lines.
2. Direction conformable to that of another line.
   • 1699, Samuel Garth, The Dispensary

     lines that from their parallel decline

3. A line of latitude.

   The 31st parallel passes through the center of my town.

4. An arrangement of electrical components such that a current flows along two or more paths; see in parallel.
5. Something identical or similar in essential respects.
6. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity.

   Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope

7. (military) 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.
8. (printing) A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines, used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page.

Antonyms

• perpendicular, skew (?)

Translations

Verb

parallel (third-person singular simple present parallels, present participle (US) paralleling or (UK) parallelling, simple past and past participle (US) paralleled or (UK) parallelled)

1. To construct or place something parallel to something else.
2. Of a path etc: To be parallel to something else.
   • 1931, H. P. Lovecraft, The Whisperer in Darkness, chapter 6:

     Archaic covered bridges lingered fearsomely out of the past in pockets of the hills, and the half-abandoned railway track paralleling the river seemed to exhale a nebulously visible air of desolation.
3. Of a process etc: To be analogous to something else.
4. To compare or liken something to something else.
5. To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, etc.
6. To equal; to match; to correspond to.
7. To produce or adduce as a parallel.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, III.2.2.iv:

     Who cannot parallel these stories out of his experience?

Translations

Derived terms

See also

• sequential

References

Danish

Etymology

Via Latin parall?lus from Ancient Greek side-by-side, from ???? (pará, “by”) +? ???????? (all?lois, “each other”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [p????l?l?]

Adjective

parallel (neuter parallelt, plural and definite singular attributive parallelle)

1. (geometry) parallel (equally distant at all points)
2. parallel (equivalent)

Noun

parallel c (singular definite parallellen, plural indefinite paralleller)

1. parallel (a similar case)
2. parallel (comparison)
3. (geometry, rare) parallel (a parallel line)

Inflection

References

• “parallel,1” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “parallel,2” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Pronunciation

Adjective

parallel (not comparable)

1. parallel

Inflection

Synonyms

• evenwijdig

German

Etymology

From Latin parall?lus, parall?los, from Ancient Greek ?????????? (paráll?los).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa?a?le?l/

Adjective

parallel (not comparable)

1. parallel

   Die Linien meines Schreibpapiers laufen exakt parallel.

   Die eine Bahnschiene verläuft auch in der Kurve stets parallel zur anderen.

2. Serving the same purpose, leading to the same result

   Die Autobahn verläuft parallel zur Eisenbahn aber in ganz unterschiedlichen Biegungen und Kurven.

   Die Eheleute hatten nichts verabredet, so haben sie parallel (zueinander) eingekauft.

Declension

Antonyms

• gekreuzt, schief, windschief

Related terms

• Parallele
• Parallelenparalaxe
• parallelisieren
• Parallelklasse
• Parallelogramm
• Parallelverschiebung

Further reading

• “parallel” in Duden online