echelon

/'eʃəlɔn/

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully adjusts an echelon to study light diffraction.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset
2. a body of troops arranged in a line