Definition of "phase" in English

noun

1. A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time.

2. That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.

3. Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view.

   • The problem has many phases.

4. (astronomy) A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form, or the absence, of a body's illuminated disk. Illustrated in Wikipedia's article Lunar phase.

   • the phases of the moon

5. (physics) Any one point or portion in a recurring series of changes, as in the changes of motion of one of the particles constituting a wave or vibration; one portion of a series of such changes, in distinction from a contrasted portion, as the portion on one side of a position of equilibrium, in contrast with that on the opposite side.

6. (chemistry) A component in a material system that is distinguished by chemical composition and/or physical state (solid, liquid or gas) and/or crystal structure. It is delineated from an adjoining phase by an abrupt change in one or more of those conditions.

7. (zoology) In certain organisms, one of two or more colour variations characteristic of the species, but independent of the ordinary seasonal and sexual differences, and often also of age.

8. (rugby union) The period of play between consecutive breakdowns.

9. (genetics) A haplotype.

10. (mathematics) The counterclockwise angle from the positive half of the real number line to the vector pointing to a complex number on an Argand diagram of the complex plane, which has the positive real line pointing right and the positive imaginary number line pointing up.

11. (music) A distortion caused by a difference in the speed of propagation for different frequencies

12. (electrical engineering) In a polyphase electrical power system, one of the power-carrying conductors, or the alternating current carried by it.

verb

1. (with in or out) To begin—if construed with "in"—or to discontinue—if construed with out—(doing) something over a period of time (i.e. in phases).

   • The use of the obsolete machines was gradually phased out as the new models were phased in.

2. (genetics, informal, transitive) To determine haplotypes in (data) when genotypes are known.

3. To pass into or through a solid object.

4. (science fiction) To use a phaser.

verb