brigade
/brɪˈɡeɪd
/noun
1A subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions and/or other units and forming part of a division: he commanded a brigade of 3,000 men...
- By 1921, Conner was a 47-year-old brigadier general preparing for his first command of an infantry brigade.
- A disturbing trend involving named areas of interest continues to recur at the infantry battalions and brigades.
- He has commanded airborne infantry units at the company, battalion, brigade and division levels.
Synonyms
unit, contingent, battalion, regiment, garrison, division, squadron, company, platoon, section, detachment, legion, corps, troop;
in ancient Rome cohort
1.1An organization with a military or quasi-military structure: a volunteer ambulance brigade...
- Reindeer became the property of collective farms, and herders were organized into brigades (working teams).
- Pete Brown, the village fire chief, organized the all-girl brigade as men and teen-age boys drifted away.
- And we currently have teams of 50 or so working with each of the special police brigades.
1.2 informal, often derogatory A group of people with a characteristic in common: the anti-smoking brigade...
- The Blue-Rinse brigade came out in force for the sellout show.
- Hearing was out of the question, due to the shrieks of the band's bobbysoxer brigade.
- But character stands neglected in Bollywood's fear brigade.
Synonyms
squad, team, group, band, party, body, crew, force, outfit, section
informal bunch
verb [with object] rare
1Form into a brigade: the militia, which was brigaded with regular formations to improve its training...
- After periods of training, the 12th brigaded with the 13th, 14th and 16th Regiments.
- He was fascinated with the Volunteer Infantry, which was brigaded with his own.
- Two divisions were sent to France, although one lacked artillery and was brigaded with the French.
1.1Associate with (someone or something): they thought the speech too closely brigaded with illegal action...
- Conflict has been a banner behind which a large number of disparate discontents have been brigaded.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, from Italian brigata 'company', from brigare 'contend', from briga 'strife'.