echelon

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from French échelon (“rung; echelon”), from échelle (“ladder”) + -on (diminutive suffix). Échelle is derived from Latin scāla (“ladder”), from scandō (“to ascend, climb”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Received Pronunciation) /ˈɛʃ.ə.lɒn/, /ˈeɪ-/, /ˈɛk.ə.lɒn/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɛʃ.əˌlɑn/ Hyphenation: ech‧e‧lon === Noun === echelon (plural echelons) A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society. Synonym: rung (cycling) A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road. (military) A formation of troops, ships, aircraft, etc., in diagonal parallel rows. [from late 18th c.] ==== Alternative forms ==== échelon ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== === Verb === echelon (third-person singular simple present echelons, present participle echeloning, simple past and past participle echeloned) (transitive, military) To form troops into an echelon. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === echelon (not comparable) (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. === Further reading === echelon (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia echelon formation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia row echelon form on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === Chelone, chelone