Phalanx

Pronunciation

Origin

From Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phalanks, "battle order, array").

Full definition of phalanx

Noun

1. (plural phalanxes) a large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
• 2007, The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2073710,00.htmlThere, the Paisleyites were being held back by another phalanx of soldiers and policemen.
• 2007, The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/freedom/Story/0,,2065311,00.htmlThe Guardian today listed a phalanx of ministers who back the bill, including Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, Tony McNulty, the policing minister, Andy Burnham, the junior health minister, Ian Pearson, the climate change minister, John Healey, the financial secretary to the Treasury, and Keith Hill, parliamentary private secretary to Tony Blair
2. (skeleton, plural phalanges) One of the bones of the finger or toe.
3. (historical, plural phalanxes) An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
4. (historical sociology) A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.

Synonyms

• (anatomy, bone of the finger or toe) phalange

Hyponyms

• (bone of the finger) distal phalanx, intermediate phalanx, proximal phalanx