squadron

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A naval unit consisting of two or more divisions of a fleet.
2. n. An armored cavalry unit subordinate to a regiment and consisting of two or more troops.
3. n. A cavalry or armored unit of a European army, corresponding to a company.
4. n. A basic tactical air force unit, subordinate to a group and consisting of two or more flights.
5. n. A multitude or horde: "Squadrons of flies like particles of dust danced up and down” ( T.E. Lawrence).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A square.
2. n. A body of soldiers drawn up in a square, or in regular array, as for battle; specifically, in modern armies, the principal division of a regiment of cavalry. This corresponds more or less closely to a company in the infantry, and consists of two troops, each commanded by a captain. The actual strength of a squadron varies from 120 to 200 men.
3. n. A division of a fleet; a detachment of ships of war employed on a particular service or station, and under the command of a flag-officer.
4. n. in early New England records (1636), one of four divisions of town land, probably in the first instance a square. The records show that squadron was nsed later in other senses: A division of a town for highway care.
5. n. A school district.
6. n. Sometimes spelled squadrant.
7. To form into squadrons, as a body of soldiers.
8. To form in order; array.

Wiktionary

1. n. obsolete Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square.
2. n. military, army A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, and averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred soldiers.
3. n. military, navy A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer; as, the North Atlantic Squadron.
4. n. military, air force A tactical air force unit; consists of at least two flights; multiple squadrons make up a group.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. rare Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square.
2. n. (Mil.) A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, and averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred men.
3. n. (Naut.) A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a naval unit that is detached from the fleet for a particular task
2. n. an air force unit larger than a flight and smaller than a group
3. n. a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms