phalanx

pha·lanx  (flngks, flngks)

n. pl. pha·lanx·es or pha·lan·ges (f-lnjz, f-)

1. A compact or close-knit body of people: "formed a solid phalanx in defense of the Constitution and Protestant religion" (G.M. Trevelyan).

2. A formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears, developed by Philip II of Macedon and used by Alexander the Great.

3. pl. phalanges Anatomy A bone of a finger or toe. Also called phalange.

4. See phalanstery.

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[Latin phalanx, phalang-, from Greek.]

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phalanx [ˈfælæŋks]

n pl phalanxes, phalanges [fæˈlændʒiːz]

1. (Military) an ancient Greek and Macedonian battle formation of hoplites presenting long spears from behind a wall of overlapping shields

2. any closely ranked unit or mass of people the police formed a phalanx to protect the embassy

3. a number of people united for a common purpose

4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in Fourierism) a group of approximately 1800 persons forming a commune in which all property is collectively owned

5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy any of the bones of the fingers or toes Related adj phalangeal

6. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) Botany

a.  a bundle of stamens, joined together by their stalks (filaments)

b.  a form of vegetative spread in which the advance is on a broad front, as in the common reed. Compare guerrilla

[via Latin from Greek: infantry formation in close ranks, bone of finger or toe]

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phalanx  (flngks)

Plural phalanges (f-lnjz)

Any of the small bones of the fingers or toes in humans or the digits of many other vertebrates.

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phalanx

an ancient military formation of serried ranks surrounded by shields; hence, any crowded mass of people or group united for a common purpose.

See also: Crowds

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Phalanx a line or array of battle; a compact group of people or animals prepared for attack or defence; a body of persons or things drawn up together in a common purpose.

Examples: phalanx of cavaliers and dames, 1837; of elms, 1891; of Greeks, 1983; of infantry; of lawyers, 1817; of sheep, 1785; of soldiers, 1553; of migrating storks, 1733.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	phalanx - any of the bones of the fingers or toes bone, os - rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates dactyl, digit - a finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates
	2.	phalanx - any closely ranked crowd of people crowd - a large number of things or people considered together; "a crowd of insects assembled around the flowers"
	3.	phalanx - a body of troops in close array military force, military group, military unit, force - a unit that is part of some military service; "he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

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phalanx noun

Related words
adjective phalangeal

Translations

phalanx [ˈfælæŋks] N (phalanges (pl)) [fæˈlændʒiːz] → falange f

phalanx

n pl <-es or phalanges>

(Anat) → Finger-/Zehenglied nt, → Phalanx f (spec)

(= body of people, troops) → Phalanx f