echelon
/ˈeʃəlɒn/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɛʃəlˌɑn] /ˈeʃəlɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɛʃəlˌɑn] /ˈe-shə-ˌlän/ (ame, mw)
echelon — noun
- echelonsingular
- echelonsplural
1. one of the layers or grades of authority within a large organization or society,
one of the layers or grades of authority within a large organization or society, where people are grouped according to how much power or influence they have
Obi worked hard for years to climb into the upper echelons of the engineering firm.
collocation: upper echelons of [organization]
Decisions from the highest echelons of government rarely reach the public unchanged.
collocation: highest echelons of [institution]
Nora's discovery earned her a place in the upper echelons of the scientific community.
Journalists rarely gain access to the inner echelons of a secret intelligence agency.
The lower echelons of the civil service rarely influence major policy changes.
- tier
more general; suggests a horizontal layer in a system (e.g. seating tiers) without the strong authority meaning of echelon
- rank
more specific to formal hierarchies with named titles, especially in military contexts
- level
broader and less formal; can refer to any point on a scale, not just power structures
用法筆記
Often appears in plural form 'echelons' when naming different levels within a hierarchy. The adjectives 'upper', 'higher', 'top', 'lower', and 'inner' are commonly used before it.
常見錯誤
2. a stepped diagonal line of troops, aircraft, and vessels in which each element i
a stepped diagonal line of troops, aircraft, and vessels in which each element is offset to one side and placed a little behind the element that precedes it
The fighter jets flew in a left echelon formation over the coastline.
collocation: left/right echelon formation
From the hillside, Gabriela watched the soldiers spread into a wide echelon across the field.
The ships moved into an echelon, each behind and to the right of the next.
Takeshi studied historical diagrams showing how cavalry units advanced in echelon during the war.
- column
a straight, single-file arrangement where units follow directly behind one another
用法筆記
Often used without an article in the phrase 'in echelon' to describe the style of formation. Direction can be specified as 'left echelon' or 'right echelon' depending on which side trails.
常見錯誤
echelon — verb
- echelonpresent simple I / you / we / they
- echelons3rd person singular
- echeloning-ing form
- echelonedpast simple
1. to place military forces such as troops, tanks, or aircraft in a stepped diagona
to place military forces such as troops, tanks, or aircraft in a stepped diagonal pattern where each unit is offset from the one ahead, or for such forces to move into that arrangement on their own
The colonel echeloned the tanks so each crew had a clear view of the hillside.
transitive: echelon + object
The patrol aircraft were echeloned to the left as they approached the storm.
passive: were echeloned + direction
The warships echeloned across the bay, following the flagship in a wide curve.
Bilal learned how commanders echelon their infantry to reduce damage from enemy fire.
文法句型
echelon + object + adverb (direction)
echelon + adverb (direction)
用法筆記
The verb form is very rare in modern English; the passive construction ('were echeloned') is slightly more common than active voice. The phrase 'arranged in echelon' is used far more often than the verb 'to echelon'.