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Definition of phase - 6 dictionary results

phase

  [feyz] noun, verb, phased, phas⋅ing.
Use phase in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind.
2. a stage in a process of change or development: Each phase of life brings its own joys.
3. a side, aspect, or point of view: This is only one phase of the question.
4. a state of synchronous operation: to put two mechanisms in phase.
5. Astronomy.
a. the particular appearance presented by the moon or a planet at a given time.
b. one of the recurring appearances or states of the moon or a planet in respect to the form, or the absence, of its illuminated disk: the phases of the moon.
6. Zoology. color phase.
7. Chemistry. a mechanically separate, homogeneous part of a heterogeneous system: the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of a system.
8. Physics. a particular stage or point of advancement in a cycle; the fractional part of the period through which the time has advanced, measured from some arbitrary origin often expressed as an angle (phase angle), the entire period being taken as 360°.
–verb (used with object)
9. to schedule or order so as to be available when or as needed.
10. to put in phase; synchronize: to phase one mechanism with another.
—Verb phrases
11. phase down, to reduce by gradual stages.
12. phase in, to put or come into use gradually; incorporate by degrees: to phase in new machinery.
13. phase out, to bring or come to an end gradually; ease out of service: to phase out obsolescent machinery.
Origin:
1805–15; (n.) back formation from phases, pl. of phasis

Related forms:
phaseless, adjective
phasic, pha⋅se⋅al, adjective

Synonyms:
1. form, shape; facet, side.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To phase
phase   (fāz)   
n.  

  1. A distinct stage of development: "The American occupation of Japan fell into three successive phases" (Edwin O. Reischauer).

  2. A temporary manner, attitude, or pattern of behavior: just a passing phase.

  3. An aspect; a part: every phase of the operation.

  4. Astronomy One of the cyclically recurring apparent forms of the moon or a planet.

  5. Physics

    1. A particular stage in a periodic process or phenomenon.

    2. The fraction of a complete cycle elapsed as measured from a specified reference point and often expressed as an angle.

    3. Any of the forms or states, solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, in which matter can exist, depending on temperature and pressure.

    4. A discrete homogeneous part of a material system that is mechanically separable from the rest, as is ice from water.

  6. Chemistry

    1. Any of the forms or states, solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, in which matter can exist, depending on temperature and pressure.

    2. A discrete homogeneous part of a material system that is mechanically separable from the rest, as is ice from water.

  7. Biology A characteristic form, appearance, or stage of development that occurs in a cycle or that distinguishes some individuals of a group: the white color phase of a weasel; the swarming phase of locusts.

tr.v.   phased, phas·ing, phas·es

  1. To plan or carry out systematically by phases.

  2. To set or regulate so as to be synchronized.

Phrasal Verb(s):
phase inTo introduce, one stage at a time.
phase outTo bring or come to an end, one stage at a time.

Idiom(s):
in phaseIn a correlated or synchronized way.

Idiom(s):
out of phaseIn an unsynchronized or uncorrelated way.

[Back-formation from New Latin phasēs, phases of the moon, from Greek phaseis, pl. of phasis, appearance, from phainein, to show; see bhā-1 in Indo-European roots.]
pha'sic (fā'zĭk) adj.
Synonyms: These nouns refer to a particular or possible way of viewing something, such as an object or a process: Phase refers to a stage or period of change or development: "A phase of my life was closing tonight, a new one opening tomorrow" (Charlotte Brontë).
Aspect is the way something appears at a specific vantage point: considered all aspects of the project.
A facet is one of numerous aspects: studying the many facets of the intricate problem.
Angle suggests a limitation of perspective, frequently with emphasis on the observer's own point of view: the reporter's angle on the story.
Side refers to something having two or more parts or aspects: "Much might be said on both sides" (Joseph Addison).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

phase 
1812, "phase of the moon," back-formed as a sing. from Mod.L. phases, pl. of phasis, from Gk. phasis "appearance" (of a star), "phase" (of the moon), from stem of phainein "to show, to make appear" (see phantasm). L. sing. phasis was used in Eng. from 1660. Non-lunar application is first attested 1841. Meaning "temporary difficult period" (especially of adolescents) is attested from 1913. The verb meaning "to synchronize" is from 1938, from the noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: phase
Pronunciation: 'fAz
Function: noun
1 : a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes
2 : a distinguishable part in a course, development, or cycle phases of a disease>
3 : a point or stage in the period of a periodic motion orprocess (as a light wave or a vibration) in relation to an arbitrary reference or starting point in the period
4 : a homogeneous, physically distinct, and mechanically separableportion of matter present in a nonhomogeneous physicochemical system; especially : one of the fundamental states of matter usually considered to include the solid, liquid, and gaseousforms
5 : an individual or subgroup distinguishably different in appearance or behavior from the norm of the group to which it belongs; also : the distinguishingpeculiarity
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

phase (fāz)
n.

  1. A characteristic form, appearance, or stage of development that occurs in a cycle or that distinguishes some individuals of a group.

  2. A discrete homogeneous part of a material system that is mechanically separable from the rest, as is ice from water.

  3. Any of the forms or states, solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, in which matter can exist, depending on temperature and pressure.

  4. A particular stage in a periodic process or phenomenon such as a wave form or time pattern.

v. phased, phas·ing, phas·es
To introduce, one stage at a time.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

phase
1. The offset of one's waking-sleeping schedule with respect to the standard 24-hour cycle; a useful concept among people who often work at night and/or according to no fixed schedule. It is not uncommon to change one's phase by as much as 6 hours per day on a regular basis. "What's your phase?" "I've been getting in about 8 P.M. lately, but I'm going to wrap around to the day schedule by Friday." A person who is roughly 12 hours out of phase is sometimes said to be in "night mode". (The term "day mode" is also (but less frequently) used, meaning you're working 9 to 5 (or, more likely, 10 to 6).) The act of altering one's cycle is called "changing phase"; "phase shifting" has also been recently reported from Caltech.
2. "change phase the hard way": To stay awake for a very long time in order to get into a different phase.
3. "change phase the easy way": To stay asleep, etc. However, some claim that either staying awake longer or sleeping longer is easy, and that it is *shortening* your day or night that is really hard (see wrap around). The "jet lag" that afflicts travelers who cross many time-zone boundaries may be attributed to two distinct causes: the strain of travel per se, and the strain of changing phase. Hackers who suddenly find that they must change phase drastically in a short period of time, particularly the hard way, experience something very like jet lag without travelling.

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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