Parallel vs. Adjacent — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 14, 2024
Parallel refers to lines or surfaces that never meet, no matter how extended, while adjacent implies closeness or sharing a common boundary.
Difference Between Parallel and Adjacent
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Parallel lines or planes maintain a constant distance from each other and never intersect, highlighting a geometric relationship defined by non-convergence. On the other hand, adjacent entities are next to each other, often touching or connected, emphasizing proximity or direct contact.
In geometry, parallelism is a fundamental concept used to describe lines on the same plane that, regardless of length, do not meet. Whereas adjacency is used more broadly to describe the relationship between two objects that are near each other, often in spatial, sequential, or hierarchical contexts.
When discussing urban planning, roads can be parallel, ensuring they do not intersect, which helps manage traffic flow efficiently. Conversely, adjacent plots of land share boundaries and are often developed in relation to each other, affecting property use and value.
In computer programming, parallel processing involves performing multiple computations simultaneously, enhancing speed and efficiency. Adjacent elements in programming, such as in arrays or data structures, refer to items that are positioned next to each other, crucial for data organization and access.
Parallel communication means multiple messages are sent simultaneously, often seen in modern data transfer technologies, enhancing throughput. On the other hand, adjacent communication might involve successive, closely linked messages, where the understanding of one part often depends on its predecessor.
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Comparison Chart
Definition in Geometry
Lines or planes that never meet, regardless of extension
Entities that are next to each other, often touching or sharing a boundary
Application in Urban Planning
Used to describe non-intersecting roads or boundaries
Refers to adjoining plots or structures influencing each other
Use in Computer Science
Describes processes running simultaneously (parallel processing)
Refers to elements next to each other in data structures
Communication
Involves sending multiple messages at the same time
Involves closely linked, successive messages
Conceptual Emphasis
Non-convergence
Proximity or direct connection
Compare with Definitions
Parallel
Extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging.
The parallel lines on a ruler help ensure straight lines.
Adjacent
Directly next to without a space.
They sat adjacent to each other at the meeting.
Parallel
Computing processes that are executed simultaneously.
Parallel processing can greatly speed up computing tasks.
Adjacent
Lying near, close, or contiguous; adjoining; neighboring.
A coffee shop is adjacent to the library.
Parallel
Involving comparison or analogy.
She drew a parallel between the two historical events.
Adjacent
In graph theory, having a common vertex and a common side.
Adjacent nodes in a network graph are directly connected.
Parallel
Similar and comparable in a way that is clear.
His experiences are parallel to mine.
Adjacent
Closely related or immediately following.
Their offices are adjacent, simplifying collaboration.
Parallel
Occurring or existing simultaneously or side by side.
They worked in parallel to finish the project faster.
Adjacent
Next to or adjoining something else
Adjacent rooms
The area adjacent to the station
Parallel
(Grammar) Having identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases.
Adjacent
(of a pair of angles) formed on the same side of a straight line when intersected by another line.
Parallel
Being an equal distance apart everywhere
Dancers in two parallel rows. See Usage Note at absolute.
Adjacent
Close to; lying near
Adjacent cities.
Parallel
Of, relating to, or designating two or more straight coplanar lines that do not intersect.
Adjacent
Next to; adjoining
Adjacent garden plots.
Parallel
Of, relating to, or designating two or more planes that do not intersect.
Adjacent
Lying next to, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on.
Because the conference room is filled, we will have our meeting in the adjacent room.
Parallel
Of, relating to, or designating a line and a plane that do not intersect.
Adjacent
Just before, after, or facing.
The picture is on the adjacent page.
Parallel
Of, relating to, or designating curves or surfaces everywhere equidistant.
Adjacent
Related to; suggestive of; bordering on.
Parallel
Having comparable parts, analogous aspects, or readily recognized similarities
The parallel lives of two contemporaries.
Adjacent
Something that lies next to something else, especially the side of a right triangle that is neither the hypotenuse nor the opposite.
Parallel
Having the same tendency or direction
Parallel motives and aims.
Adjacent
Next to; beside.
The house adjacent to the school was demolished.
A notice was sent to the house adjacent the school.
Parallel
Moving in the same direction at a fixed interval
Parallel motion.
Parallel fifths.
Adjacent
(figuratively) Related to; suggestive of; bordering on.
Parallel
Having the same tonic. Used of scales and keys
C minor is the parallel minor scale of C major.
Adjacent
Lying near, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on; as, a field adjacent to the highway.
I find that all Europe with her adjacent isles is peopled with Christians.
Parallel
(Electronics) Denoting a circuit or part of a circuit connected in parallel.
Adjacent
That which is adjacent.
Parallel
Of or relating to the simultaneous transmission of all the bits of a byte over separate wires
A parallel port.
A parallel interface.
Adjacent
Nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space;
Had adjacent rooms
In the next room
The person sitting next to me
Our rooms were side by side
Parallel
Of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations
Parallel processing.
Adjacent
Having a common boundary or edge; touching;
Abutting lots
Adjoining rooms
Rhode Island has two bordering states; Massachusetts and Conncecticut
The side of Germany conterminous with France
Utah and the contiguous state of Idaho
Neighboring cities
Parallel
In a parallel relationship or manner
A road and a railway that run parallel.
Adjacent
Near or close to but not necessarily touching;
Lands adjacent to the mountains
New York and adjacent cities
Parallel
(Mathematics) One of a set of parallel geometric figures, such as lines or planes.
Parallel
One that closely resembles or is analogous to another
A unique event, without parallel in history.
Parallel
A comparison indicating likeness; an analogy.
Parallel
The condition of being parallel; near similarity or exact agreement in particulars; parallelism.
Parallel
Any of the imaginary lines representing degrees of latitude that encircle the earth parallel to the plane of the equator.
Parallel
(Printing) A sign indicating material referred to in a note or reference.
Parallel
(Electronics) An arrangement of components in a circuit that splits the current into two or more paths. Used chiefly in the phrase in parallel.
Parallel
To make or place parallel to something else
Paralleled the ditch to the highway.
Parallel
To be or extend parallel to
A trail that parallels the crater rim.
Parallel
To be similar or analogous to
Claimed that fetal development parallels the evolution of the species.
Parallel
To be or provide an equal for; match.
Parallel
To show to be analogous; compare or liken
Critics who have paralleled the novel's plot to an ancient myth.
Parallel
Equally distant from one another at all points.
The horizontal lines on my notebook paper are parallel.
Parallel
Having the same overall direction; the comparison is indicated with "to".
The two railway lines are parallel.
Parallel
Either not intersecting, or coinciding.
Parallel
(computing) Involving the processing of multiple tasks at the same time.
A parallel algorithm
Parallel
With a parallel relationship.
The road runs parallel to the canal.
Parallel
One of a set of parallel lines.
Parallel
Direction conformable to that of another line.
Parallel
A line of latitude.
The 31st parallel passes through the center of my town.
Parallel
An arrangement of electrical components such that a current flows along two or more paths; see in parallel.
Parallel
Something identical or similar in essential respects.
Parallel
A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity.
Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope
Parallel
(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.
Parallel
(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.
Parallel
To construct or place something parallel to something else.
Parallel
Of a path etc: To be parallel to something else.
Parallel
Of a process etc: To be analogous to something else.
Parallel
To compare or liken something to something else.
Parallel
To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, etc.
Parallel
To equal; to match; to correspond to.
Parallel
To produce or adduce as a parallel.
Parallel
Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes.
Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial.
Parallel
Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; - used with to and with.
When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished.
Parallel
Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage.
Parallel
A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc.
Who made the spider parallels design,Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line ?
Parallel
Direction conformable to that of another line,
Lines that from their parallel decline.
Parallel
Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity.
Twixt earthly females and the moonAll parallels exactly run.
Parallel
A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
Parallel
Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart.
None but thyself can be thy parallel.
Parallel
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.
Parallel
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.
Parallel
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.
Parallel
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.
Parallel
To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else.
The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian.
Parallel
Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, or the like.
His life is paralleledEven with the stroke and line of his great justice.
Parallel
To equal; to match; to correspond to.
Parallel
To produce or adduce as a parallel.
My young remembrance can not parallelA fellow to it.
Parallel
To be parallel; to correspond; to be like.
Parallel
Something having the property of being analogous to something else
Parallel
An imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator
Parallel
Be parallel to;
Their roles are paralleled by ours
Parallel
Make or place parallel to something;
They paralleled the ditch to the highway
Parallel
Duplicate or match;
The polished surface twinned his face and chest in reverse
Parallel
Being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting;
Parallel lines never converge
Concentric circles are parallel
Dancers in two parallel rows
The axes are perpendicular to each other
Parallel
Of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations;
Parallel processing
Common Curiosities
How are adjacent rooms positioned in a building?
Adjacent rooms in a building share a common wall or floor.
Can two streets be both parallel and adjacent?
Typically, parallel streets do not touch and thus are not adjacent; they run in the same direction without converging.
How does parallel processing differ from sequential processing?
Parallel processing involves performing multiple computations at the same time, whereas sequential processing handles one computation after another.
What defines a pair of parallel lines?
Parallel lines are defined by their equal distance from each other at all points and never intersecting.
How can furniture be arranged adjacently?
Furniture can be arranged adjacently by placing pieces next to each other, sharing space or function.
Can parallel lines meet under any circumstances in Euclidean geometry?
In Euclidean geometry parallel lines never meet.
Have a common vertex and a common side connected in graph theory?
Adjacent nodes in a network graph are directly connected.
Why is adjacency important in urban planning?
Adjacency is crucial as adjacent properties or structures influence each other’s use, access, and value.
What is an example of parallel evolution?
Parallel evolution occurs when two independent species evolve similar traits, like the wings of bats and birds.
What role does adjacency play in network theory?
In network theory, adjacency denotes nodes or elements that are directly connected, which affects the flow and pathfinding in the network.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
