Echelon vs. Formation — What's the Difference?

A formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line.

The act or process of forming something or of taking form.

A flight formation or arrangement of craft in this manner.

Something formed

A similar formation of groups, units, or individuals.

The manner or style in which something is formed; structure

A subdivision of a military or naval force

A specified arrangement or deployment, as of aircraft, troops, or players on a sports team.

A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank

(Geology) A primary unit in the mapping of rock strata, consisting of a set of contemporaneous rocks having the same characteristics and origin.

(Physics) A form used in certain diffraction gratings that resembles a flight of stairs of equal heights and equal widths.

The act of assembling a group or structure. 14

To arrange or take place in an echelon.

Something possessing structure or form. 17

A level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.

The process during which something comes into being and gains its characteristics. 18

(cycling) A line of riders seeking maximum drafting in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.

(military) A grouping of military units or smaller formations under a command, such as a brigade, division, wing, etc. 18

(military) A formation of troops, ships, etc., in diagonal parallel rows.

(geology) A layer of rock of common origin. 19

To form troops into an echelon.

(military) An arrangement of moving troops, ships, or aircraft, such as a wedge, line abreast, or echelon. Often "in formation".

(linear algebra) Of a matrix: having undergone Gaussian elimination with the result that the leading coefficient or pivot (that is, the first nonzero number from the left) of a nonzero row is to the right of the pivot of the row above it, giving rise to a stepped appearance in the matrix.

(sports) An arrangement of players designed to facilitate certain plays.

An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing. Also used adjectively; as, echelon distance.

The process of influencing or guiding a person to a deeper understanding of a particular vocation.

An arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or V form.

(category theory) A structure made of two categories, two functors from the first to the second category, and a transformation from one of the functors to the other.

To place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon.

The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping.

To take position in echelon.

The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart.

A body of troops arranged in a line

A substance formed or deposited.

A diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset

Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations.

The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc.

An arrangement of people or things acting as a unit;

A particular spatial arrangement

The fabrication of something in a particular shape

The act of forming something;

(geology) the geological features of the earth

Natural process that causes something to form;

Creation by mental activity;