any distinct or characteristic period or stage in a sequence of events or chain of development

one of the recurring shapes of the portion of the moon or an inferior planet illuminated by the sun

a particular stage in a periodic process or phenomenon

a distinct state of matter characterized by homogeneous composition and properties and the possession of a clearly defined boundary

a variation in the normal form of an animal, esp a colour variation, brought about by seasonal or geographical change

a stage in mitosis or meiosis

one of the circuits in a system in which there are two or more alternating voltages displaced by equal amounts in phase (sense 5)

(in systemic grammar) the type of correspondence that exists between the predicators in a clause that has two or more predicators; for example connection by to, as in I managed to do it, or -ing, as in we heard him singing

to execute, arrange, or introduce gradually or in stages

to cause (a part, process, etc) to function or coincide with (another part, process, etc)

to arrange (processes, goods, etc) to be supplied or executed when required