Echelon

Quick meaning: Echelon is a noun meaning A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.

Meaning

A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.

More Meanings

1. (cycling) A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.
2. (military) A formation of troops, ships, aircraft, etc., in diagonal parallel rows.
3. (transitive, military) To form troops into an echelon.
4. (linear algebra) Of a matrix: having undergone Gaussian elimination with the result that the leading coefficient or pivot (that is, the first nonzero number from the left) of a nonzero row is to the right of the pivot of the row above it, giving rise to a stepped appearance in the matrix.

Example Sentences

Cyclists in an echelon take up more room in the traffic lane than they do when riding single or double file.

In an echelon, in which several cyclists are sitting in on one another, each rider takes his turn of about 200 meters at the front before dropping to the rear.

The troops selected by his Royal Highness for this daring exploit, consisted of the war battalions of the 3d, 6th, and 7th regiments of the Royal Guard, forming the first echelon, […]

The order in echelons is favorable for attack, because it readily conforms to the nature of the ground, and does not necessitate engaging more than a part of the forces; it is adopted for the purpose of attacking a particular point of the enemy's line.

Word Forms

• echelons
• echeloning
• echeloned

Synonyms for echelon

Depending on context, synonyms include rung.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include formation, level, increment, scale, rung, step.

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