phalanx

views updated May 21 2018

pha·lanx / ˈfālangks; ˈfal-/ • n. 1. (pl. pha·lanx·es) a group of people or things of a similar type forming a compact body or brought together for a common purpose: he headed past the phalanx of waiting reporters to the line of limos. ∎  a body of troops or police officers, standing or moving in close formation: six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police. ∎  (in ancient Greece) a body of Macedonian infantry with long spears, drawn up in close order with shields overlapping.2. (pl. pha·lan·ges / fəˈlanjēz; fāˈlanjēz/ ) Anat. a bone of the finger or toe.

Phalanx

views updated Jun 08 2018

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.

phalanx

views updated Jun 11 2018

phalanx (in ancient Greece) a body of Macedonian infantry drawn up in close order with shields touching and long spears overlapping.

phalanx

views updated May 18 2018

phalanx line of battle XVI; (anat.) joint of a digit XVII; (bot.) bundle of stamens XVIII. — L. — Gr. phálagx.
So phalange XVI. — F. — L.

phalanx

views updated May 29 2018

phalanx (fal-anks) n. see phalanges.

phalanx

views updated May 18 2018

phalanx See PHALANGE.