1. level in hierarchy: a level of authority or rank in an organization or system the lower echelons of society
2. aircraft formation with offset positions: a group of aircraft flying in positions behind and to one side of the aircraft in front
3. military formation with offset positions: a formation in which individuals or units are positioned behind and to one side of those in front to give a stepped effect and allow each a clear view ahead
4. physics device for studying spectra: a series of glass plates of equal thickness arranged like steps, used in spectroscopy for studying the fine structure of spectral lines
transitive and intransitive verb (past and past participleech·e·loned, present participleech·e·lon·ing, 3rd person present singularech·e·lons)
Definition:
form echelon: to arrange something in or form an echelon
