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1. A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society
   "the lower echelons of society"
    
2. Status in a society or organization
   "the upper echelon"
    
3. (military) a body of troops arranged in a line
    
4. A diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset

1. Form or arrange in an echelon

Derived forms: echeloned, echeloning, echelons

Type of: diffraction grating, force, grating, military force, military group, military unit, position, status

Encyclopedia: Echelon, New Jersey