This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

n. A formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line.

n. A flight formation or arrangement of craft in this manner.

n. A similar formation of groups, units, or individuals.

n. A subdivision of a military or naval force: a command echelon.

n. A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank: a job in the company's lower echelon.

v. To arrange or take place in an echelon.

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

n. A formation of troops, ships, etc. in diagonal parallel rows.

v. To form troops into an echelon.

n. An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing. Also used adjectively.

n. An arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or V form.

v. To place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon.

verb-intransitive. To take position in echelon.

n. A step-like arrangement or order; specifically, a military disposition of troops of such a nature that each division, brigade, regiment, company, or other body occupies a position parallel to, but not in the same alinement with, that in front, thus presenting the appearance of steps, and capable of being formed into one line by moving each of the less advanced divisions, etc., forward until they all aline.

To form in echelon.

n. Milit., one of the subdivisions of a command marching in echelon.

n. In optics, a set of glass plates placed one upon another, with the edge of each projecting slightly, stepwise, beyond the edge of the preceding one. The device, which is due to A. A. Michelson, is used for the production of diffraction spectra of high dispersion and resolving power.

n. a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset

n. a body of troops arranged in a line

"Even if the upper echelon is motivated to try to keep the shop clean, a police union operates in the opposite direction: its job, of course, is to defend its members, no matter how discreditable their conduct, and police associations have done a spectacular job of it."

echeloned    echeloning    echelons   

diffraction grating    grating    military group    force    military unit    military force   

echelon spectroscope    echelon diffraction grating   

brigade    platoon    headquarters    aviation    reconnaissance    regimental    infantry    maneuver    squadron    airfield