parallel bars: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Sport-specific
Quick answer
What does “parallel bars” mean?
A piece of gymnastics equipment consisting of two horizontal bars on uprights, used for swinging, balancing, and strength exercises.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of gymnastics equipment consisting of two horizontal bars on uprights, used for swinging, balancing, and strength exercises.
Any situation, concept, or physical arrangement involving two or more elements running alongside each other in a constant, equidistant manner, without ever meeting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is universally used in gymnastics. Spelling follows regional norms (e.g., 'practised on the parallel bars' in UK, 'practiced on the parallel bars' in US).
Connotations
Identical connotations of athleticism, precision, and upper-body strength.
Frequency
Equally frequent in sports contexts in both varieties. Rare in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “parallel bars” in a Sentence
perform on the [parallel bars]practise [on/using] the [parallel bars]dismount [from] the [parallel bars]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly in metaphorical sense: 'The two projects proceeded on parallel bars, never converging.'
Academic
Used in sports science, kinesiology, and physics (as a metaphor for parallel lines or processes).
Everyday
Almost exclusively in the context of watching or discussing gymnastics, e.g., the Olympics.
Technical
The standard term for the specific apparatus in artistic gymnastics (men's and women's, though dimensions differ).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parallel bars”
- Using a singular verb: 'The parallel bars is difficult.' (Correct: '...are difficult.')
- Confusing with 'uneven bars' (a different apparatus for women's gymnastics).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically plural. Use plural verbs: 'The parallel bars are challenging.'
'Parallel bars' are two bars set at the same height, used in men's and women's gymnastics (women's are lower). 'Uneven bars' are two bars set at different heights and are a women's apparatus only.
In a clear gymnastics context, 'bars' is often understood, but 'parallel bars' is the precise and correct term to distinguish it from other bar apparatuses.
Very rarely. Its use is almost entirely confined to gymnastics, though a metaphorical extension to describe parallel, non-intersecting processes is possible.
A piece of gymnastics equipment consisting of two horizontal bars on uprights, used for swinging, balancing, and strength exercises.
Parallel bars is usually technical / sport-specific in register.
Parallel bars: in British English it is pronounced /ˌparəˈlɛl ˈbɑːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɛrəˈlɛl ˈbɑːrz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture two bar codes (bars) running side-by-side (parallel) on a gym floor.
Conceptual Metaphor
INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT IS PARALLEL BARS (two processes running alongside but separate from each other).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'parallel bars' used metaphorically?