squadron

Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

squad·ron

(skwŏd′rən)

1. A naval unit smaller than a fleet.

2. An armored cavalry unit subordinate to a regiment and consisting of two or more troops.

3. A cavalry or armored unit of a European army, corresponding to a company.

4. A basic tactical air force unit, subordinate to a group and consisting of two or more flights.

5. A multitude or horde: "Squadrons of flies like particles of dust danced up and down" (T.E. Lawrence).

[Italian squadrone, augmentative of squadra, squad; see squad.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

squadron

(ˈskwɒdrən)

1. (Military)

a. a subdivision of a naval fleet detached for a particular task

b. a number of naval units usually of similar type and consisting of two or more divisions

2. (Military) a cavalry unit comprising two or more troops, headquarters, and supporting arms

3. (Military) the basic tactical and administrative air force unit comprising two or more flights

Abbreviation: sqn

[C16: from Italian squadrone soldiers drawn up in square formation, from squadro square]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

squad•ron

(ˈskwɒd rən)

n.

1. a subdivision of a naval fleet usu. consisting of two or more divisions.

2. an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops.

3. (in the U.S. Air Force).

a. the basic administrative and tactical unit, consisting of two or more flights.

b. a flight formation.

[1555–65; < Italian squadrone=squadr(a) square]

squadron

- Borrowed from Italian squadrone, from Latin quadrare, "square"; the sense of "military group" comes from an earlier "square formation of troops."

squadron

1. An organization consisting of two or more divisions of ships, or two or more divisions (Navy) or flights of aircraft. It is normally but not necessarily composed of ships or aircraft of the same type.
2. The basic administrative aviation unit of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
3. Battalion-sized ground or aviation units in US Army cavalry regiments.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

Squadron

any body of men in a regular formation; a division of a fleet or air force; a force of 150 to 200 men in the army.

Examples: squadron of air craft—Brewer; of angels; of bees, 1713; of cardinals, 1906; of clouds, 1862; of consideration, 1680; of dissent, 1824; of galleons, 1588; of the Fathers, 1617; of blessed spirits, 1684; of ships; of soldiers, 1656.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	squadron - a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms cavalry - a highly mobile army unit
	2.	squadron - an air force unit larger than a flight and smaller than a group air unit - a military unit that is part of the airforce wing - a unit of military aircraft escadrille - an air force squadron typically containing six airplanes (as in France during World War I)
	3.	squadron - a naval unit that is detached from the fleet for a particular task naval unit - a military unit that is part of a navy escadrille - a small squadron

Translations

سَرِيَّه

eskadra

eskadrille

Geschwader Schwadron

escuadrón

escadron escadre

liîssveit

squadriglia squadrone

eskadronas

eskadraeskadriļaeskadrons

eskadre eskadron skvadron

эскадрон

eskadra

filo tabur

骑兵、海军和空军的中队

squadron

[ˈskwɒdrən]

A. N (Mil) → escuadrón m (Aer) → escuadrilla f, escuadrón m (Naut) → escuadra f

B. CPD squadron leader N (Brit) → comandante m (de aviación)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

squadron

[ˈskwɒdrən] n

(MILITARY) → escadron m

(AVIATION) → escadrille f

(NAUTICAL, NAVAL) → escadrille fsquadron leader n (British) (AVIATION) → commandant m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

squadron

n (of cavalry) → Schwadron f; (Aviat) → Staffel f; (Naut) → Geschwader nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

squadron

[ˈskwɒdr/ən] n (Mil) → squadrone m (Aer, Naut) → squadriglia

squadron

(ˈskwodrən) noun

a division of a regiment, a section of a fleet, or a group of aeroplanes.

References in classic literature ?

But nothing gained so large a share of admiration as a horse, which had been brought from Valparaiso by the Achille, one of the vessels of the squadron. The animal, a remarkably fine one, had been taken ashore, and stabled in a hut of cocoanut boughs within the fortified enclosure.

On this buccaneering expedition, Rear Admiral Du Petit Thouars, leaving the rest of his squadron at the Marquesas,--which had then been occupied by his forces about five months--set sail for the doomed island in the Reine Blanche frigate.

View in context

The squadron in which Nicholas Rostov served as a cadet was quartered in the German village of Salzeneck.

On October 11, the day when all was astir at headquarters over the news of Mack's defeat, the camp life of the officers of this squadron was proceeding as usual.

View in context

A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet.

Within but little more than an hour from the moment the victorious Zodangan squadron had risen to meet us from the camp of the besiegers the battle was over, and the remaining vessels of the conquered Zodangans were headed toward the cities of Helium under prize crews.

View in context

So saying, he dashed into the midst of the squadron of ewes, and began spearing them with as much spirit and intrepidity as if he were transfixing mortal enemies in earnest.

"That's how that thief of a sage, my enemy, can alter and falsify things," answered Don Quixote; "thou must know, Sancho, that it is a very easy matter for those of his sort to make us believe what they choose; and this malignant being who persecutes me, envious of the glory he knew I was to win in this battle, has turned the squadrons of the enemy into droves of sheep.

View in context

They mounted -- the king on Winter's horse and Winter on that of the king; then Winter took his place at the head of the first squadron, and the king, with Athos on his right and Aramis on his left, at the head of the second.

View in context

In the course of the day the little squadron arrived at the confluence of Henry and Mad Rivers, which, thus united, swelled into a beautiful stream of a light pea-green color, navigable for boats of any size, and which, from the place of junction, took the name of Snake River, a stream doomed to be the scene of much disaster to the travellers.

View in context

The song of pleasant stations beside the salt lagoons, The song of blowing squadrons that shuffled down the dunes, The song of midnight dances that churned the sea to flame-- The Beaches of Lukannon--before the sealers came!

View in context

A sound like the moaning in squadrons over Asphaltites of unforgiven ghosts of Gomorrah, ran shuddering through the air.