echelon

acb

ech∙e∙lon / ˈɛʃəˌlɑn ; ˈeʃəlɔn /
◙noun [C]
1.  also  echelons a rank or level of authority in an organization, business etc, or the people at that level
• 〔组织、企业等的〕梯队; 阶层:
»upper / higher / lower echelons
»the upper echelons of government
  政府高层
»Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society.
  他们的客户是从社会最高层拉来的。
2.  [technical] a line of ships, soldiers, planes etc arranged in a pattern that looks like a series of steps
• 〔船只、士兵和飞机等的〕梯形编队

echelon
ech·elon  / ˈeʃəlɔn; NAmE -lɑːn /
noun
1. [usually pl.]  a rank or position of authority in an organization or a society
   职权的等级；阶层:
   the  lower / upper / top / higher echelons of the Civil Service
   政府部门的低层/上层/最高层/高层
2. an arrangement of soldiers, planes, etc. in which each one is behind and to the side of the one in front
   (士兵、飞机等的)梯形编队,梯队


例句
......extended into the highest echelons of the judiciary, the police and the military.