Opposite vs. Parallel — What's the Difference?

Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other

Being an equal distance apart everywhere

Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other

Of, relating to, or designating two or more straight coplanar lines that do not intersect.

Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things

Of, relating to, or designating two or more planes that do not intersect.

Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance

Of, relating to, or designating a line and a plane that do not intersect.

Sharply contrasting; antithetical

Of, relating to, or designating curves or surfaces everywhere equidistant.

Growing in pairs on either side of a stem

Having comparable parts, analogous aspects, or readily recognized similarities

Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.

Having the same tendency or direction

One that is opposite or contrary to another.

(Grammar) Having identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases.

An opponent or antagonist.

Moving in the same direction at a fixed interval

An antonym.

Having the same tonic. Used of scales and keys

In an opposite position

(Electronics) Denoting a circuit or part of a circuit connected in parallel.

Across from or facing

Of or relating to the simultaneous transmission of all the bits of a byte over separate wires

In a complementary dramatic role to

Of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations

Located directly across from something else, or from each other.

In a parallel relationship or manner

(botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.

(Mathematics) One of a set of parallel geometric figures, such as lines or planes.

Facing in the other direction.

One that closely resembles or is analogous to another

Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.

A comparison indicating likeness; an analogy.

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

The condition of being parallel; near similarity or exact agreement in particulars; parallelism.

Something opposite or contrary to something else.

Any of the imaginary lines representing degrees of latitude that encircle the earth parallel to the plane of the equator.

A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.

(Printing) A sign indicating material referred to in a note or reference.

An opponent.

(Electronics) An arrangement of components in a circuit that splits the current into two or more paths. Used chiefly in the phrase in parallel.

An antonym.

To make or place parallel to something else

(mathematics) An additive inverse.

To be or extend parallel to

In an opposite position.

To be similar or analogous to

Facing, or across from.

To be or provide an equal for; match.

In a complementary role to.

To show to be analogous; compare or liken

(television) On another channel at the same time.

Equally distant from one another at all points.

Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; - often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza.

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

Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; - of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; - also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall.

Either not intersecting, or coinciding.

Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme; antonyms have opposite meanings.

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

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

With a parallel relationship.

Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node.

One of a set of parallel lines.

One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist.

Direction conformable to that of another line.

That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down.

A line of latitude.

Two words that express opposing concepts;

An arrangement of electrical components such that a current flows along two or more paths; see in parallel.

A relation of direct opposition;

Something identical or similar in essential respects.

A contestant that you are matched against

A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity.

Something inverted in sequence or character or effect;

(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.

Being directly across from each other; facing;

(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.

Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem;

To construct or place something parallel to something else.

Moving or facing away from each other;

Of a path etc: To be parallel to something else.

The other one of a complementary pair;

Of a process etc: To be analogous to something else.

Altogether different in nature or quality or significance;

To compare or liken something to something else.

Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;

To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, etc.

Directly facing each other;

To equal; to match; to correspond to.

To produce or adduce as a parallel.

Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes.

Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; - used with to and with.

Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage.

A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc.

Direction conformable to that of another line,

Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity.

A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.

Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, or the like.

To equal; to match; to correspond to.

To produce or adduce as a parallel.

To be parallel; to correspond; to be like.

Something having the property of being analogous to something else

An imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator

Be parallel to;

Make or place parallel to something;

Duplicate or match;

Being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting;

Of or relating to the simultaneous performance of multiple operations;