adj (1)平行的 ((of lines，long structures or pieces)always the same distance from each other at every point)[A(to/with)][作pred]：～lines/bars/rows of tall poplars 平行线/双杠/一排排平行高大的白杨树;Concentric spheres are～. 同心球面是平行的。The road is/runs～to/with the river. 公路与河流平行。〖同〗alongside， abreast;〖反〗nonparallel;

(2)同样的，类似的(same; similar) [A(to)]：～responsibilities/situations/difficulties/cases/developments/hobbies 同样的责任/同样的局势/同样的困难/类似的事例/类似的发展/类似的爱好;He was～with the beggars.他跟乞丐差不多。〖同〗similar，alike，same;〖反〗dissimilar，different;

n (1)平行线 (line that is parallel to another)[C](=parallel line)： Draw a～to this line. 画一条跟这条线平行的线。

(2)纬线(度，圈) (line drawn from east to west across a map，etc at a fixed distance from the equator)[C](=parallel of latitude)： the 38th～第38度纬线;The border between Canada and the United States follows the forty-ninth～. 加拿大和美国的边界沿着49度纬线。

(3)极相似的人(事或物) (comparable person or thing)[C，U]：historical～s 历史上的类似事件;an actor without～in the modern cinema 当代电影界最出色的演员;a new agreement without～in the recent history of the world 近代世界史上史无前例的新协定;〖同〗 equivalent，equal，match;〖反〗opposite，reverse，counter;

(4)比较 (comparison between sth and sth)[C](尤用于draw a parallel between sth and sth)： draw a～between the human lung and a balloon 把人的肺和气球进行比较;There are such great differences that close～s cannot be drawn .两者的差距如此之大，不可能作近似的比较。〖同〗comparison，analogy;

(5)相似之处 (likeness or state of being alike;similarity)[C]： Is there a～between the British Empire and the Roman Empire? 大英帝国和罗马帝国之间有相似之处吗? The plot has innumerable～s in the detective novels of the past decade. 故事情节与过去10年的侦探小说有无数相似之处。〖同〗analogy，likeness，;〖反〗difference，unlikeness;

in parallel (指电流)并联：several generators operated in～几台并联运行的发电机;

vt (1)比得过，配得上(be equal to)[T+n，尤pass]：His success/performance/stupidity can't be～(l)ed.他的成功/表演/愚蠢没法比。

(2)与……相似;可与……相比 (be，describe as，represent as，similar)[T+n，尤pass]：Her experiences～(l)ed mine in many ways. 她的经历在许多方面和我的相似。Can you～that for friendliness? 你能把那看作友好吗? The long head hair in some humans is～(l)ed by that of Angora cats. 有些人类的长发与安哥拉猫的毛相似。〖同〗equal，match;〖反〗differ;

→′parallelism n.相似;类似