(1):

(n.) A body of heavy-armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep. There were several different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from four to twenty-five or more ranks of men.

(2):

(n.) Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of a union.

(3):

(n.) A group or bundle of stamens, as in polyadelphous flowers.

(4):

(n.) One of the digital bones of the hand or foot, beyond the metacarpus or metatarsus; an internode.

(5):

(n.) A Fourierite community; a phalanstery.