HIERARCHY:

A hierarchy is an arrangement of items (objects, names, values, categories, etc.), in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another.

A hierarchy can link entities either directly or indirectly, and either vertically or horizontally. The only direct links in a hierarchy, are to one's immediate superior or to one of one's subordinates, although a system that is largely hierarchical can also incorporate other organizational patterns. Indirect links can extend "vertically" upwards or downwards via multiple links in the same direction. All parts of the hierarchy which are not linked vertically to one another nevertheless can be "horizontally" linked by traveling up the hierarchy to find a common direct or indirect superior, and then down again.

ARTICLE: Learning How to Learn / Ch. 2: Concept Mapping / P. 15-24

SOURCE: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia > Hierarchy