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phalanx
pha·lanx P0232900 (fā′lăngks′, făl′ăngks′)n. pl. pha·lanx·es or pha·lan·ges (fə-lăn′jēz, fā-) 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.
[Latin phalanx, phalang-, from Greek.]phalanx (ˈfælæŋks) n, pl phalanxes or phalanges (fæˈlændʒiːz) 1. (Military) an ancient Greek and Macedonian battle formation of hoplites presenting long spears from behind a wall of overlapping shields2. 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 purpose4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in Fourierism) a group of approximately 1800 persons forming a commune in which all property is collectively owned5. (Anatomy) anatomy any of the bones of the fingers or toes. 6. (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[C16: via Latin from Greek: infantry formation in close ranks, bone of finger or toe]pha•lanx (ˈfeɪ læŋks, ˈfæl æŋks)
n., pl. pha•lanx•es for 1-6, pha•lan•ges (fəˈlæn dʒiz for 7.) 1. (in ancient Greece) a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep, with shields joined and long spears overlapping. 2. any body of troops in close array. 3. a number of persons united for a common purpose. 4. a compact or closely massed body of persons, animals, or things. 5. (in Fourierism) a group of about 1800 persons, living together and holding their property in common. 6. any of the bones of the fingers or toes. [1545–55; < Latin < Greek phálanx military formation, bone of finger or toe, wooden roller] phalanxan ancient military formation of serried ranks surrounded by shields; hence, any crowded mass of people or group united for a common purpose.See also: CrowdsPhalanx 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.phalanxA Greek military formation of ranked armored hoplites.Thesaurus| Noun | 1. |  phalanx - any of the bones of the fingers or toesbone, os - rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebratesdactyl, digit - a finger or toe in human beings or corresponding body part in other vertebrates | | 2. | phalanx - any closely ranked crowd of peoplecrowd - 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 arraymilitary 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" |
phalanx nounRelated words
adjective phalangealTranslations
phalanx
phalanx, ancient Greek formation of infantry. The soldiers were arrayed in rows (8 or 16), with arms at the ready, making a solid block that could sweep bristling through the more dispersed ranks of the enemy. Originally employed by the Spartans, it was developed by Epaminondas of Thebes (d. 362 B.C.). Use of the phalanx reached its apex when Philip II and Alexander the Great used the great Macedonian phalanx (16 deep and armed with the sarissa, a spear c.13 ft/4 m long) to conquer all Greece and the Middle East. Later, the Macedonian phalanx deteriorated and had few Macedonians in it; it was defeated in several battles with the Romans who conquered (168 B.C.) the Macedonians at Pydna. Thereafter the phalanx was obsolete. Because it lacked tactical flexilibity, the phalanx was a better defensive than offensive formation.Phalanx in anatomy, one of the small tubular bones of the fingers and toes in vertebrates. The structure of the digits in an animal is closely related to the animal’s way of life. A convenient way of expressing the number of phalanges in the digits is provided by what is called the phalangeal formula, which gives the number of phalanges in each digit, beginning with the first. For the tailed amphibians and for the ancient terrestrial vertebrates known as the Stegocephalia, the number of phalanges in the first through fourth digits of the forelimbs is expressed by the formula 2.2.3.2; for the forelimbs of most tailless amphibians, the formula is 2.2.3.3. The hind limbs of the Stegocephalia and tailless amphibians are characterized by the formula 2.2.3.4.3, and the hind limbs of the tailed amphibians by the formula 2(1).2.3.3.2. Reptiles have a greater number of phalanges, ordinarily 2.3.4.5.3(4), in both the anterior and posterior extremities; among turtles the number may drop to 1 or 2 per digit. The extinct ichthyosaurs had as many as several dozen phalanges; this hyperphalangia increased the flexibility of the extremity that had been transformed into a fin. In birds the forelimb was transformed into a wing and retained only three digits—the second through fourth. The third digit has two or three phalanges; the second and fourth usually have one rudimentary phalanx each. Among mammals five digits are most frequently found on both anterior and posterior extremities, and the phalangeal formula is 2.3.3.3.3. The flippers of aquatic mammals (Cetacea) exhibit hyperphalangia. Among flying mammals (Chiroptera) the second through fifth digits are elongated and webbed for flying. The phalanges of the digits of climbing mammals are broadened and are convex on the back side of the extremity and concave on the palm side. In man each finger and toe, except the thumb and big toe, consists of three phalanges: the proximal, middle, and terminal, or ungual. The thumb and big toe have two phalanges. The proximal phalanges are connected with the heads of the metacarpal bones (in the hand) and the metatarsal bones (in the foot) by means of ball-and-socket joints. The phalanges are connected to each other by hinge joints, which allow the digits to bend and unbend. N. S. LEBEDKINA
Phalanx a close line formation of the Greek infantry (hoplites) in battle. A phalanx was deployed along the front in eight to 16 ranks, sometimes as many as 25. When a rank comprised 1,000 men, the phalanx could extend for 500 m. It was used as early as the Trojan War but assumed its final form in the sixth century B.C. The formation was refined by Philip II of Mace-don, who added peltasts (seePELTASTS) and cavalry. The large Macedonian phalanx contained 16,384 hoplites, 8,192 peltasts, and 4,096 cavalry. The main subdivisions of the phalanx were the lochus, consisting of one rank of 16 hoplites, the syntagma, comprising 16 lochi, and the small phalanx, comprising 16 syntagmas. A given maneuver could be executed using combinations of the various subdivisions. The battle formation could also assume various forms, including a square, an echelon unit, or pincers. The phalanx was best suited to frontal attack by hoplites armed with the sarissa, a long pike. The tactical phalanx operated as a single unit and struck with considerable force in a frontal assault. It was relatively immobile, however, and in motion its ranks quickly became disorganized. The formation was used in ancient Rome until the introduction of the maniple in the late fourth century B.C., as well as in later Rome in wars against the barbarians. phalanx[′fā‚laŋks] (anatomy) One of the bones of the fingers or toes. phalanx1. (in Fourierism) a group of approximately 1800 persons forming a commune in which all property is collectively owned 2. Anatomy any of the bones of the fingers or toes 3. Botanya. 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. phalanx
pha·lanx, gen. pha·lan·gis, pl. pha·lan·ges (fā'langks, fă-langks'; fă-lan'jis; -jēz), Avoid the misspelling phalynx. The singular form is phalanx, not phalange.1. One of the long bones of the digits, 14 in number for each hand or foot, including two for the thumb or great toe, and three each for the other four digits; designated as proximal, middle, and distal, beginning from the metacarpus. 2. One of a number of cuticular plates, arranged in several rows, on the surface of the spiral organ (of Corti), which are the heads of the outer row of pillar cells and of phalangeal cells; between them are the free ends of the hair cells. [L. fr. G. phalanx (-ang-), line of soldiers, bone between two joints of the fingers and toes] phalanx (fā′lăngks′, făl′ăngks′)n. pl. phalanxes or phalanges (fə-lăn′jēz, fā-) 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.pha·lanx, pl. phalanges (fā'langks, fă-lan'jēz) [TA] 1. One of the long bones of the digits, 14 in number for each hand or foot, two for the thumb or great toe, and three each for the other four digits; designated as proximal, middle, and distal, beginning from the metacarpus. 2. One of a number of cuticular plates, arranged in several rows, on the surface of the spiral organ (of Corti), which are the heads of the outer row of pillar cells and of phalangeal cells. [L. fr. G. phalanx (-ang-), line of soldiers, bone between two joints of the fingers and toes]phalanx A finger or toe bone. Plural PHALANGES.PhalanxAny of the digital bones of the hand or foot. Humans have three phalanges to each finger and toe with the exception of the thumb and big toe which have only two each.Mentioned in: Fingertip Injuries, Mallet Fingerphalanx
Words related to phalanxnoun any of the bones of the fingers or toesRelated Wordsnoun any closely ranked crowd of peopleRelated Wordsnoun a body of troops in close arrayRelated Words- military force
- military group
- military unit
- force
- armed forces
- armed services
- military
- military machine
- war machine
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