any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind.
a stage in a process of change or development: Each phase of life brings its own joys.
a side, aspect, or point of view: This is only one phase of the question.
a state of synchronous operation: to put two mechanisms in phase.
Astronomy.
the particular appearance presented by the moon or a planet at a given time.
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.
Zoology. color phase.
Chemistry. a mechanically separate, homogeneous part of a heterogeneous system: the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of a system.
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),phased,phas·ing.
to schedule or order so as to be available when or as needed.
to put in phase; synchronize: to phase one mechanism with another.
Verb Phrases
phase down,to reduce by gradual stages.
phase in,to put or come into use gradually; incorporate by degrees: to phase in new machinery.
phase out,to bring or come to an end gradually; ease out of service: to phase out obsolescent machinery.
Origin of phase
1805–15; (noun) back formation from phases, plural of phasis
SYNONYMS FOR phase
1 form, shape; facet, side.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR phase ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM phase
phaseless,adjectivephasic,pha·se·al,adjectivere·phase,verb (used with object)re·phased,re·phas·ing.subphase,noun
Vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people before phase 3 trials conclude means those people could be harmed by any of these potential side effects.
China has quietly vaccinated more than 100,000 people for Covid-19 before completing safety trials|Lili Pike|September 11, 2020|Vox
Of the hundreds of potential Covid-19 vaccines in development, six are in the final stages of testing, known as phase three clinical trials.
Oxford Scientists: These Are Final Steps We’re Taking to Get Our Coronavirus Vaccine Approved|Rebecca Ashfield|September 9, 2020|Singularity Hub
“We will keep working with the team from UCSD as we make decisions about when to move into subsequent phases of reopening,” he said.
The County Is Rethinking a Major Coronavirus Trigger|Will Huntsberry|September 9, 2020|Voice of San Diego
According to reports, an unconfirmed number of job losses are planned as part of its next phase of cost-saving.
‘Too big to ignore’: Future estimates profits of nearly $110 million this year|Lucinda Southern|September 8, 2020|Digiday
In other words, my fueling needs and ability to recover from workouts may change depending on whether I’m in a low-hormone phase or a high-hormone phase.
Everything You Need to Know About Period Tracking|Christine Yu|September 6, 2020|Outside Online
The families announced along with it that they had entered a “phase of silence” surrounding the details of the new deal.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have entered the “anything goes” phase of religious exemptions.
Instead, astronomers hope to observe planet formation in all its stages, each marking a phase in star and planet birth.
The Most Stunning View Ever of Planets Being Born|Matthew R. Francis|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And it was also during the phase of the higher autobiography.
Martin Amis Talks About Nazis, Novels, and Cute Babies|Ronald K. Fried|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you followed such things at the time, perhaps the phrase “Phase II report” will snap a synapse or two.
Dole, Nazis, and Desperation in Kansas|Michael Tomasky|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will win artists to a phase of the sublime in America which they have overlooked.
The Book of the National Parks|Robert Sterling Yard
As she enlarged upon this phase of her life Victor was appalled by it.
Victor Ollnee's Discipline|Hamlin Garland
Every phase of each stage in the soul's history is disclosed to view by means of double and single doors.
Notes and Queries, Number 192, July 2, 1853|Various
There can be little doubt as to which phase should be chosen.
A Study of Recent Earthquakes|Charles Davison
There is no phase of the business with which Mr. Young is not thoroughly familiar.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
British Dictionary definitions for phase
phase
/ (feɪz) /
noun
any distinct or characteristic period or stage in a sequence of events or chain of developmentthere were two phases to the resolution; his immaturity was a passing phase
astronomyone of the recurring shapes of the portion of the moon or an inferior planet illuminated by the sunthe new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter are the four principal phases of the moon
physics
the fraction of a cycle of a periodic quantity that has been completed at a specific reference time, expressed as an angle
(as modifier)a phase shift
physicsa particular stage in a periodic process or phenomenon
in phase(of two waveforms) reaching corresponding phases at the same time
out of phase(of two waveforms) not in phase
chema distinct state of matter characterized by homogeneous composition and properties and the possession of a clearly defined boundary
zoologya variation in the normal form of an animal, esp a colour variation, brought about by seasonal or geographical change
biology(usually in combination)a stage in mitosis or meiosisprophase; metaphase
electrical engineeringone of the circuits in a system in which there are two or more alternating voltages displaced by equal amounts in phase (sense 5)See also polyphase (def. 1)
(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
verb(tr)
(often passive)to execute, arrange, or introduce gradually or in stagesa phased withdrawal
(sometimes foll by with)to cause (a part, process, etc) to function or coincide with (another part, process, etc)he tried to phase the intake and output of the machine; he phased the intake with the output
mainlyUSto arrange (processes, goods, etc) to be supplied or executed when required
Derived forms of phase
phaseless, adjectivephasicorphaseal, adjective
Word Origin for phase
C19: from New Latin phases, pl of phasis, from Greek: aspect; related to Greek phainein to show
Any of the forms, recurring in cycles, in which the Moon or a planet appears in the sky.
One of a set of possible homogenous, discrete states of a physical system. States of matter such as solid and liquid are examples of phases, as are different crystal lattice structures in metals such as iron. See also phase transitionstate of matter.
A measure of how far some cyclic behavior, such as wave motion, has proceeded through its cycle, measured in degrees or radians. At the beginning of the phase, its value is zero; at one quarter of its cycle, its phase is 90 degrees (π/2 radians); halfway through the cycle its value is 180 degrees (π radians), and so on.♦ The phase angle between two waves is a measure of their difference in phase. Two waves of the same frequency that are perfectly in phase have phase angle zero; if one wave is ahead of the other by a quarter cycle, its phase angle 90 degrees (π/2 radians); waves that are perfectly out of phase have phase angle 180 degrees (π radians), and so on. See more at wave.