<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>plural phalanxes</li><li>phalanges</li><li>(in ancient Greece) a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep, with shields joined and long spears overlapping</li><li>any body of troops in close array</li><li>a number of individuals, especially persons united for a common purpose</li><li>a compact or closely massed body of persons, animals, or things</li><li>Phalanx, Military: a radar-controlled U.S. Navy 20 mm Gatling-type gun deployed on ships as a last line of defense against antiship cruise missiles</li><li>(in Fourierism) a group of about 1800 persons, living together and holding their property in common</li><li>Anatomy, Zoology: any of the bones of the fingers or toes</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used without object) Printing: to arrange the distribution of work in a shop as evenly as possible</li></ul>