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View synonyms for

platoon

[ pluh-toon ]

noun

  1. a military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
  2. a small unit of a police force.
  3. a company or group of persons:

    a platoon of visitors.

  4. Football. a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit:

    a halfback on the offensive platoon.



verb (used with object)

  1. Sports.
    1. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.
    2. to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.

verb (used without object)

  1. Sports.
    1. to alternate at a position with another player or players.
    2. to use players alternately at the same position.
    3. to alternate different teams.

platoon

/ əˈٳː /

noun

  1. military a subunit of a company usually comprising three sections of ten to twelve men: commanded by a lieutenant
  2. a group or unit of people, esp one sharing a common activity, characteristic, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of platoon1

1630–40; earlier plotton < French peloton little ball, group, platoon, diminutive of pelote ball. See pellet, -oon
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Word History and Origins

Origin of platoon1

C17: from French peloton little ball, group of men, from pelote ball; see pellet
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Under the cover of night, the platoon walks the streets of Ramadi and chooses a location for their sniper mission.

From

"To see these guys not obey orders - and do what they needed to save their platoon was interesting to me," he says, talking about the soldiers' evacuation process.

From

Mendoza was there when his platoon took over an Iraqi home for a lookout and then came under heavy fire.

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The movie is based on Mendoza’s own experiences during the Iraq war and is slightly fictionalized to protect some platoon members’ identities.

From

With the RPF in power, Makenga was absorbed into the official Rwandan army and rose to the rank of sergeant and deputy platoon commander.

From

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Platonizeplatoon sergeant