parallel bars

American

noun

(used with a plural verb) a gymnasium apparatus consisting of two wooden bars on uprights, adjustable in height, and used for swinging, vaulting, balancing exercises, etc.
(used with a singular or plural verb) a competitive event for men on such an apparatus.

parallel bars British

plural noun

gymnastics
1. (functioning as plural) a pair of wooden bars on uprights, sometimes at different heights, for various exercises
2. (functioning as singular) an event in a gymnastic competition in which competitors exercise on such bars

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of parallel bars

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lukas Dauser of Germany took gold in the men’s parallel bars with a huge 15.400, finishing ahead of China’s Shi Cong and Kaito Sugimoto of Japan.

From Washington Times • Oct. 8, 2023

Zou Jingyuan of China picked up gold in the men’s parallel bars.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Watch Jersey's Daniel Lee star in the first gymnastics rotation with a leading score of 78.05 thanks to top scores on the floor, rings and parallel bars at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2022

Along with the ban, Kuliak must return the bronze medal he won in parallel bars, the International Gymnastics Federation said.

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2022

After I’ve changed into shorts, Chloe waves me down to a room with mirrored walls and long parallel bars.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023