1009
parcel
same time; CORRESPONDING: As well as the inquiry in London,
there is a parallel investigation going on in New York into the
cause of the disaster.
parallel² n 1 [C(to, with)] a parallel line or surface 2 [C(to,
with);U] a person or thing that is closely similar or compara-
ble to another person or thing: The doctor knew of no
parallel to his patient's case, and was unsure what treatment
to prescribe. | Such disgraceful behaviour is without parallel
in my experience. (=I have never heard of any so bad) 3 [C(be-
tween, with)] (a point of) similarity: There are some interesting
parallels between the educational systems of these two
countries. | The present famine is almost on a parallel with
the disastrous one of ten years ago. (=is almost as bad, severe
etc) 4 [C(between)] a comparison that shows similarity: She
drew a parallel between the events leading up to the previous
war and the current political situation. 5 [C] also parallel of
latitude — any of a number of lines on a map drawn parallel
to the EQUATOR: the 49th parallel 6 in parallel tech (of a
number of electrical apparatuses) connected between two
points in such a way that each may receive electrical power
whether or not the others are being used → compare in
series (SERIES)
parallel³ v [T] 1 to be similar to: Your experience parallels
my own. 2 fml to equal; match: a level of economic prosperity
that has been paralleled by few other countries → see also
UNPARALLELED
parallel 'bars n [(the)P] a pair of parallel bars supported by
four upright posts, used for swinging on to exercise the body
par·al·lel·ism /'pærəlelɪzəm/ n 1 [U] the state or quality of
being PARALLEL 2 [C] fml a point of similarity; PARALLEL
par·al·lel·o·gram /ˌpærə'leləgræm/ n a flat four-sided
shape with opposite sides equal and parallel
parallel 'port n a PORT (=a part of a computer where you can
connect another piece of equipment such as a PRINTER) that
works fast because it has 25 CABLES which can all send
information at the same time
parallel 'processing n [U] a very efficient method of using
a computer, which uses a lot of PROCESSORS working
together at the same time, instead of one after the other
par·a·lyse BrE || -lyze AmE /'pærəlaɪz/ v [T] 1 to cause
paralysis to: After the accident she was paralysed from the
waist down. | (fig.) He stood paralysed by fear. 2 to make
ineffective; cause to stop working: The electricity failure
paralysed the train service.
pa·ral·y·sis /pə'rælɪʃs/ n pl. -ses /-siːz/ [C,U] 1 (a) loss of
feeling in, and loss of control of, all or some of the body
muscles: The disease can cause temporary paralysis of the
arm. 2 (a) loss or lack of ability to move, operate, think etc:
The transport strike caused total paralysis in the capital.
par·a·lyt·ic¹ /ˌpærə'lɪtɪk/ adj 1 suffering from paraly-
sis 2 infml, especially BrE very drunk →-ally /kli/ adv
paralytic² n a paralysed person
par·a·med·ic /ˌpærə'medɪk/ n especially AmE someone, such as
an AMBULANCE driver, who is trained to help in the care of
sick people but is not a doctor or nurse
pa·ram·e·ter /pə'ræmɪtər/ n [usually pl.] any of the estab-
lished limits within which something must operate: There is
plenty of scope for experimentation, provided we remain
within the parameters of the budget.
par·a·mil·i·tary /ˌpærə'mɪlɪtəri ǀ ˌmɪlɪˌteri/ adj 1 connected
with and helping a regular military force: In some countries
the police have paramilitary duties. 2 like a regular military
force, or intended for use as an irregular military force,
especially illegally: the paramilitary organizations of North-
ern Ireland
par·a·mount /'pærəmaʊnt/ adj fml greater than all others in
importance or influence; PRIMARY: This matter is of para-
mount importance. | The interests of the consumer should be
paramount. →-cy n [U]
Paramount trademark a large US film and television company
based in Hollywood, which has made many famous films
par·a·mour /'pærəmuər/ n lit or old use a lover, especially a
MISTRESS → compare INAMORATA
par·a·noi·a /ˌpærə'nɔɪə/ n [U] 1 a serious disease of the
mind in which the sufferer believes that he or she is hated
and being purposely mistreated, or is a person of great
power or importance 2 infml an unreasonable lack of trust in
other people, sometimes amounting to fear
par·a·noi·ac /ˌpærə'nɔɪæk/ | also pa·ra·no·ic /-'nɔɪ-ɪk/
adj, n (of or being) a person suffering from paranoia →-ally
/kli/ adv
par·a·noid /'pærənɔɪd/ adj (as if) suffering from paranoia:
My father locks every door and window in the house – he's
paranoid about being robbed.
par·a·nor·mal, the /ˌpærə'nɔməl ǁ-'nɔːr-/ n [S] mysteri-
ous events that cannot be explained by science; the SUPER-
NATURAL →paranormal adj
par·a·pet /'pærəpɪt, -pet/ n 1 a low wall at the edge of a
roof, bridge etc 2 a protective wall of earth or stone built in
front of the TRENCHES used by soldiers in war
par·a·pher·na·li·a /ˌpærəfə'neɪliə ǀ ˈfer-/ n 1 [U] small arti-
cles of various kinds, especially personal belongings or those
needed for a particular activity; usually used of things which
are complicated or many in number: I keep all my photo-
graphic paraphernalia in that cupboard. 2 [S] infml especially
BrE unwanted, annoying, or difficult activity, especially that is
necessary for doing or getting something; PALAVER: all the
paraphernalia of getting a new passport 3 AmE the things
used in taking illegal drugs, such as pipes, containers etc: In
some states it is not illegal to sell (drug) paraphernalia.
par·a·phrase /'pærəfreɪz/ n [(of)] a re-statement in different
words of (something written or said), especially in words
that are easier to understand →paraphrase v [T]
par·a·ple·gi·a /ˌpærə'pliːdʒiə, -dʒə/ n [U] PARALYSIS of the
lower part of the body, including both legs
par·a·ple·gic /ˌpærə'pliːdʒɪk/ n, adj (a person) suffering
from paraplegia
par·a·psy·chol·o·gy /ˌpærəsaɪ'kɒlədʒi ǀ -'kaɪ-/ n [U] the
scientific study of PSYCHIC powers, such as the ability to see
into the future, to see into another person's mind etc
Par·a·quat /'pærəkwɒt ǀ -kwɑːt/ trademark a very powerful
type of liquid poison used to kill unwanted plants
CULTURAL NOTE In the US, paraquat is remembered for
having been used on CANNABIS plants by the government,
which led to cannabis users being poisoned.
par·as /'pæræz/ n [(the) P] BrE infml for PARATROOPS
par·a·site /'pærəsaɪt/ n [(on, of)] 1 a plant or animal that
lives on or in another and gets food from it: The mistletoe
plant is a parasite on/of trees. 2 derog a useless person who is
supported by the generosity or efforts of others
par·a·sit·ic /ˌpærə'sɪtɪk/ | also par·a·sit·i·cal /-ɪkəl/
adj 1 [(on)] of, like, or being a parasite: a parasitic
plant 2 caused by a parasite: a parasitic disease →-ally /kli/
adv
par·a·sol /'pærəsɒl ǀ -sɔːl, -sɑːl/ n a SUNSHADE
par·a·thy·roid /ˌpærə'θaɪrɔɪd/ | also para'thyroid gland
n any of four small bodily parts (GLANDS) in the throat which
control the use of two chemicals, CALCIUM and PHOSPHORUS,
by the body
par·a·troop·er /'pærətruːpər/ n a soldier trained to drop
from an aircraft using a PARACHUTE
par·a·troops /'pærətruːps/ n [P] paratroopers, especially as
formed into a military unit to fight together
par·a·ty·phoid /ˌpærə'taɪfɔɪd/ n [U] a disease that attacks
the bowels, and is very similar to, but less serious than,
TYPHOID
par·boil /'pɑːbɔɪl  'pɑːr-/ v [T] to boil until partly cooked
par·cel¹ /'pɑːsəl ǀ 'pɑːr-/ n [(of)] 1 especially BrE || also package
especially AmE — a thing or collection of things wrapped in
paper and tied or fastened in some other way for easy
carrying, posting etc: She tied up the parcel with string. | He
undid/unwrapped the parcel. | I'm just going to take this
parcel to the post office. | a parcel of clothes 2 especially law or
AmE a piece of land, especially part of a larger piece that has
been divided → compare PACKET; see also part and parcel
of (PART¹)
parcel² v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE
parcel sthg ↔ out phr v [T] to divide into parts or shares
for giving out