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

One of his first initiatives was to deploy a new squadron of one-way attack drones copied from a widely used Iranian version, the Shahed-136.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then, he reveals that they’re just one squadron in the never-ending war for liberation.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Hertling served as the operations officer of a cavalry squadron spearheading the advance into Iraq.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's more fighter squadrons, it's more capabilities, it's more defensive capabilities. And it's more bomber pulses more frequently," he said.

From BBC

Meanwhile RAF F-35 jets and Typhoons based in Cyprus, along with a squadron of Typhoons based in Qatar, continue to fly over the Middle East as part of a defensive operation.

From BBC

Related Words

• armada
• battalion
• fleet
• squad