squadron

American  

[skwod-ruhn] / ˈskwɒd rən /

noun

1. a portion of a naval fleet or a detachment of warships; a subdivision of a fleet.

2. an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops, a headquarters, and various supporting units.

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

   1. the basic administrative and tactical unit, smaller than a group and composed of two or more flights.

   2. a flight formation.

4. a number of persons grouped or united together for some purpose; group.

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verb (used with object)

1. to form into a squadron or squadrons; marshal or array in or as if in squadrons.

squadron British  

/ ˈskwɒdrən /

noun

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

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

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

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

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Other Word Forms

• half-squadron noun
• subsquadron noun

Etymology

Origin of squadron

1555–65; < Italian squadrone, equivalent to squadr ( a ) square + -one augmentative suffix

Example Sentences

PLA engineers could fail to get the technology to work in a real wartime scenario, making China’s robot squadrons easy for enemies to pick off or disable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then a whole squadron of jets, each not more than a centimeter across, flew up his bedspread toward his knee.

From Literature

George’s response reached most colonists in early January, along with news that to start the new year, a royal navy squadron had bombarded Norfolk, then Virginia’s principal port, followed by fires that destroyed the city.

From Salon

The Growler, which is flown by a Navy squadron nicknamed the “Zappers,” likely played a key role in Venezuela, where air defenses were quickly overwhelmed.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s a buzzing in my ears like a squadron of drones.

From Literature

Related Words

• armada
• battalion
• fleet
• squad