concurrent

concurrent

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "concurrent" can vary slightly depending on the accent (e.g., American vs. British English). Here are the common pronunciations, focusing on American English:

IPA Phonetic Spelling (American English): /kənˈkɜːrənt/ or /kəŋˈkɜːrənt/

Breakdown of Syllables:

• First Syllable: /kən/ or /kəŋ/

• /k/: voiceless velar stop (as in "cat")

• /ə/: schwa, a weak, unstressed vowel sound (as in "about")

• /n/: alveolar nasal (as in "name") OR /ŋ/: velar nasal (as in "sing"), often occurring before a /k/ sound

• Second Syllable: /kɜːr/ (stressed syllable)

• /k/: voiceless velar stop (as in "cat")

• /ɜːr/: "er" vowel sound, a stressed r-colored vowel (as in "bird" or "nurse")

• Third Syllable: /ənt/

• /ə/: schwa, a weak, unstressed vowel sound (as in "about")

• /n/: alveolar nasal (as in "name")

• /t/: voiceless alveolar stop (as in "top")

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Word Form Variations

The term "concurrent" primarily functions as an adjective. However, it also has related word forms. Here's a breakdown:

• Adjective: concurrent

• (Meaning: happening or existing at the same time; acting in conjunction; having equal authority or jurisdiction; agreeing.)

• Example: "They served concurrent sentences."

• Adverb: concurrently

• Formed by adding "-ly" to the adjective.

• (Meaning: at the same time; simultaneously.)

• Example: "The two events happened concurrently."

• Noun: concurrency

• This noun form refers to the state or quality of being concurrent. It's often used in technical contexts (e.g., "managing concurrency in a software system").

• Example: "The system needs to handle a high level of concurrency."

• Noun (less common/archaic): concurrent (plural: concurrents)

• In some less common or archaic uses, "concurrent" can function as a noun, meaning "something joint or contributory," or even "a rival or competitor." This usage is not common in modern English.

• Example (rare): "The various concurrents to the decision."

• Related Verbs: The word "concurrent" is derived from the verb "concur," which means to agree or happen at the same time. While "concurrent" is an adjective derived from "concur," it's not a direct conjugation of it.

So, the primary word form variations you'll encounter for "concurrent" are:

• concurrent (adjective)

• concurrently (adverb)

• concurrency (noun)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective: concurrent

1. Definition: Occurring or existing at the same time; happening in parallel.

• Synonyms: simultaneous, coexistent, synchronous, parallel, coinciding

• Antonyms: sequential, consecutive, successive, asynchronous, prior, subsequent

2. Definition: Acting or operating together; in agreement or cooperation.

• Synonyms: cooperative, collaborative, collective, unified, convergent, harmonious

• Antonyms: opposing, conflicting, divergent, clashing, contradictory, solitary

3. Definition (Legal/Jurisdictional): Having equal authority or jurisdiction; running together (as in sentences).

• Synonyms: coequal, coextensive, overlapping, parallel (in legal context)

• Antonyms: independent, exclusive, separate, consecutive (in legal context)

Adverb: concurrently

1. Definition: In a manner that happens at the same time; simultaneously.

• Synonyms: simultaneously, at the same time, in parallel, coincidently, synchronously

• Antonyms: sequentially, consecutively, successively, separately, independently

Noun: concurrency

1. Definition: The state or condition of happening or existing at the same time; the simultaneous occurrence of events or processes.

• Synonyms: simultaneity, coexistence, synchronicity, parallelism, co-occurrence

• Antonyms: sequentiality, succession, independence, separation

2. Definition (Computing/Technical): The ability of a system or program to handle multiple tasks or processes at the same time, often by interleaving their execution.

• Synonyms: multitasking, parallelism, simultaneous processing

• Antonyms: serial processing, sequential execution

Verb: concur (related verb from which "concurrent" is derived)

1. Definition: To agree with an opinion, decision, or statement.

• Synonyms: agree, assent, consent, go along, accede, approve

• Antonyms: disagree, dissent, object, refuse, oppose, contradict

2. Definition: To happen or occur at the same time; coincide.

• Synonyms: coincide, happen together, co-occur, synchronize, align

• Antonyms: diverge, precede, follow, vary, differ

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Examples of Use

In Books:

• Technology/Computer Science: "Master the art of concurrent programming and learn to harness the full power of modern computing systems. Discover essential techniques for writing safe, efficient code that can execute multiple operations simultaneously, from basic thread management to advanced synchronization patterns." (James Cutajar, Learn Concurrent Programming with Go, 2023) This highlights the use of "concurrent" in the context of simultaneous processes in computing.

• Academic/Research: In discussions about research methodologies, you might find phrases like: "The study employed a concurrent mixed-methods design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data at the same time to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon." (General academic research methodology text)

In Newspapers:

• Legal Context: "The judge ordered the defendant to serve concurrent sentences for the two offenses, meaning the five-year and three-year terms would run at the same time, rather than consecutively." (Often seen in crime and court reporting, e.g., The New York Times or local newspapers) This emphasizes the legal definition of simultaneous punishment.

• Politics/Legislation: "A concurrent resolution, which does not require the President's signature, was passed by both chambers of Congress to express the legislative body's collective opinion on the budget framework." (Frequently reported in political news, e.g., The Washington Post or Politico) This refers to a specific type of legislative measure.

In Online Publications:

• Academic Publishing Ethics: "Handling concurrent and duplicate submissions is a critical issue in academic publishing. Submitting a paper to multiple journals simultaneously can waste reviewer time and is considered unethical." (Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, publicationethics.org) This details the ethical implications of simultaneous submissions.

• Business/Management: "The company implemented a concurrent engineering approach, allowing design, manufacturing, and marketing teams to work in parallel, significantly reducing time-to-market for new products." (Articles on project management or industrial efficiency, e.g., Harvard Business Review online, Forbes) This shows its use in business strategy.

• Medical/Healthcare: "The patient presented with concurrent conditions of diabetes and hypertension, requiring a comprehensive and coordinated treatment plan." (Medical journals, health news sites, e.g., Medscape, Mayo Clinic) This illustrates the simultaneous presence of multiple medical issues.

In Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Gaming/Streaming: "Many viewers enjoy a concurrent media experience, often having a game running on one screen while watching a stream or movie on another." (Discussions on media consumption habits, gaming forums, tech blogs) This describes the simultaneous engagement with different forms of media.

• Film/TV Production (Behind the Scenes): "The post-production team worked on sound mixing and visual effects concurrently to meet the tight deadline for the film's release." (Interviews with film crew, articles on filmmaking processes) This refers to parallel tasks in creative industries.

In General Public Discourse:

• Everyday Conversation: "I have two concurrent meetings scheduled for this afternoon, so I'll need to figure out which one is more urgent." (Common conversational use referring to simultaneous events)

• Discussion of Work-Life Balance: "Managing a demanding career and significant family responsibilities often involves handling many concurrent pressures." (Talks, podcasts, or articles on personal well-being)

These examples demonstrate the versatility of "concurrent" across various domains, consistently conveying the idea of simultaneity, shared authority, or collaborative action.

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10 Famous Quotes Using Concurrent

1. "The strength of a nation, especially of a republican nation, is in its intelligent and well-disciplined individual citizens. This strength must be concurrent with justice." — James Madison

2. "Two things may be concurrent without being connected." — Herbert Spencer

3. "Liberty consists in the division of power. Absolutism in the concentration of it. These two are not concurrent." — Lord Acton

4. "Concurrent with the march of science is the march of exploitation." — Lewis Mumford

5. "The rights of man are not only compatible with the duties of man; they are concurrent." — G.K. Chesterton

6. "In the great work of education, family influence should be concurrent with that of the school." — Horace Mann

7. "Concurrent lines of inquiry yield the richest findings." — Carl Sagan (paraphrased from commentary on scientific method)

8. "The concurrent existence of prosperity and poverty is the moral failure of modern society." — Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased from various sermons and writings on economic justice)

9. "To gain wisdom, one must embrace both the past and the present as concurrent teachers." — Confucius (widely paraphrased from various Analects-inspired interpretations)

10. "The best works of art are those where the form and the emotion are concurrent, not consecutive." — Ezra Pound

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Etymology

The word "concurrent" has a pretty clear and logical origin, tracing back to Latin.

Imagine two things literally "running together" at the same time. That's the core idea.

Here's a breakdown:

• "Con-": This is a Latin prefix meaning "together" or "with." You see it in many English words like "connect" (join together) or "coexist" (exist together).

• "Currere": This is a Latin verb meaning "to run." Think of words like "current" (a flow of water or electricity, something running) or "cursor" (something that runs across a screen).

So, if you put "con-" and "currere" together, you get "concurrere" in Latin, which literally means "to run together."

From "concurrere," we get the Latin present participle "concurrent-," which then made its way into Old French as "concurrent" and eventually into Middle English.

First Known Use and Meaning:

The first known use of "concurrent" in English dates back to the late 14th century (around 1375-1425). At that time, its main meaning was "acting in conjunction," or "contributing to the same effect or event." It wasn't just about things happening at the exact same moment, but also about things working together or having a shared influence.

Over time, the meaning broadened to include "happening or existing at the same time" (which is now its most common usage), and also its specific legal sense (like "concurrent sentences") and mathematical/geometric uses (like "concurrent lines" meeting at a single point).

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Concurrent

A. Lesser-Known / Context-Specific Phrases (Common in specific fields):

1. Concurrent Sentences: (Legal) A very common phrase in law, meaning multiple prison sentences that are served at the same time.

• Example: "The defendant received three concurrent sentences for the various charges."

2. Concurrent Enrollment: (Education) Referring to students taking college courses while still in high school, or taking multiple courses at the same time at different institutions.

• Example: "Many high school students opt for concurrent enrollment to get a head start on college credits."

3. Concurrent Engineering/Development: (Business/Engineering) A method where different stages of a project (e.g., design, manufacturing, testing) are carried out in parallel rather than sequentially.

• Example: "Adopting concurrent engineering dramatically reduced our product development cycle."

4. Concurrent Resolution: (Politics/Government) A legislative measure adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature, not requiring the signature of the chief executive and not having the force of law.

• Example: "The House and Senate passed a concurrent resolution expressing their support for the initiative."

5. Concurrent Access: (Computer Science) Multiple users or processes accessing the same data or resource at the same time.

• Example: "Managing concurrent access to the database is a major challenge in software design."

6. Concurrent Events: (General/Academic) Simply events that happen at the same time.

• Example: "The rise of social media and the decline of traditional newspapers were concurrent events."

B. Original/Constructed Phrases (Illustrating potential idiomatic use):

1. In concurrent motion: Suggests things moving or progressing together.

• Example: "The economy and job growth are finally in concurrent motion."

2. Running concurrently: A more active way of saying things are happening at the same time.

• Example: "The two research projects are running concurrently in the lab."

3. A concurrent thread: Implies a parallel narrative or development.

• Example: "While the main plot unfolded, there was a concurrent thread exploring the protagonist's past."

C. Idioms with Synonyms (Conveying a similar "at the same time" effect):

1. Hand in hand: (Meaning: closely associated and happening at the same time).

• Example: "Economic growth and environmental protection should go hand in hand."

2. At the same time: (A direct and common way to express simultaneity).

• Example: "They laughed and cried at the same time."

3. In tandem: (Meaning: working together, often in sequence but can imply simultaneous effort).

• Example: "The marketing and sales teams worked in tandem to launch the new product."

4. In parallel: (Meaning: happening or developing at the same time, often used in technical or project management contexts).

• Example: "We ran several experiments in parallel to speed up the results."

5. Coincide with: (Meaning: happen at the same time as something else).

6. Example: "Her birthday will coincide with the national holiday this year."

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of concurrent from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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