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Glite Dictionary
unparallel

unparallel

7.5
Not going in the same direction or staying the same distance apart
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈpɛrəl/
translation icon : no paralelo
  • The two roads are unparallel, diverging sharply as they approach the mountain.

Examples

  • These two lines on the graph are unparallel and do not intersect at any point.

  • The consequences of such an unparallel proximity could be... anything.

    The Man from Planet X (1951)

  • The artist's style is unparallel to any other, making her work truly unique.

Synonyms

nonparallel
vsunparallel
6.1

Lines, paths, or surfaces that do not stay the same distance apart

describes lines or surfaces whose direction or spacing change along their length

Antonyms

parallel
  • Specialized
80 3.2

Lines, planes, or flat surfaces that stay the same distance apart and never meet

Surface Forms

unparallel positive
unparalleled comparative

Morphology

unparallel = parallel (transparent) = un + parallel

A straightforward negation: the productive prefix 'un-' added to the adjective 'parallel' yields the clear meaning 'not parallel'.

Etymology

Unparallel begins with un- meaning 'not' and the rest is parallel, which means 'side by side'. Imagine two lines or train tracks that do not stay the same distance apart — they are unparallel, so the word means 'not parallel'.