echelon
/'eʃəlɔn/
Definition
- Noun:
- A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society: A particular group of people within a larger organization or system, often implying a hierarchy.
- A military formation in which units are arranged diagonally or in steps: A tactical arrangement of troops, ships, or aircraft in parallel lines, each line being slightly to the left or right of the one in front.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Organizational Rank):
- She quickly rose to the upper echelon of the company.
- The decision was made at the highest echelon of government.
- Noun (Military Formation):
- The fighter jets flew in a tight echelon formation.
- The general ordered the troops to advance in echelon.
Advanced Usage
- "The upper/lower/top echelons": Refers to the highest or lowest levels of a hierarchy.
- Information is often filtered before it reaches the lower echelons of management.
- "In echelon": Describes the state of being arranged in the specific military formation.
- The ships sailed in echelon to maximize their defensive coverage.
Variants and Related Words
- Echeloned (adjective): Arranged in or as if in echelons.
- The echeloned ranks of soldiers presented an imposing sight.
- Echelonment (noun): The arrangement or formation in echelons. (This is a less common term.)
Synonyms
- Tier: A level or grade within a hierarchical system.
- Stratum: A layer or level, especially of society or an organization.
- Rank: A position within a grading system.
Related Phrases
- Phrasal Verb: Not commonly used with phrasal verbs.
- Verb Form (less common): To echelon means to arrange in or form into an echelon.
- The commander echeloned his forces along the ridge.
Related Idioms
- "To reach the upper echelons": To achieve a high rank or status within an organization.
- His innovative work helped him reach the upper echelons of scientific research.
Noun
-
a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset
-
a body of troops arranged in a line
