(hierarchies)
1.
A ~ is a system of organizing people into different ranks or levels of importance, for example in society or in a company.
Like most other American companies with a rigid ~, workers and managers had strictly defined duties...
N-VAR: usu with supp
2.
The ~ of an organization such as the Church is the group of people who manage and control it.
N-COUNT-COLL: with supp
3.
A ~ of ideas and beliefs involves organizing them into a system or structure. (FORMAL)
...the notion of ‘cultural imperialism’ implies a ~ of cultures, some of which are stronger than others.
N-COUNT: usu N of n