phase

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

phase, n. [NL. phasis, Gr. , fr. to make to appear: cf. F. phase. See Phenomenon, Phantom, and Emphasis.].

•  That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases.  [1913 Webster]
•  A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form of enlightened disk; as, the phases of the moon or planets. See Illust. under Moon.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  A homogenous, physically distinct portion of matter in a system not homogeneous; as, the three phases, ice, water, and aqueous vapor. A phase may be either a single chemical substance or a mixture, as of gases.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  In certain birds and mammals, one of two or more color variations characteristic of the species, but independent of the ordinary seasonal and sexual differences, and often also of age. Some of the herons which appear in white and colored phases, and certain squirrels which are sometimes uniformly blackish instead of the usual coloration, furnish examples. Color phases occur also in other animals, notably in butterflies.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  The relation at any instant of a periodically varying electric magnitude, as electro-motive force, a current, etc., to its initial value as expressed in factorial parts of the complete cycle. It is usually expressed in angular measure, the cycle beb four right angles, or 360°. Such periodic variations are generally well represented by sine curves; and phase relations are shown by the relative positions of the crests and hollows of such curves. Magnitudes which have the same phase are said to be in phase.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  the relation at any instant of any cyclically varying physical quantity, such as voltage in an A.C. circuit, an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a rotating object, to its initial value as expressed as a fractional part of the complete cycle. It is usually expressed in angular measure, the complete cycle being 360°.

  "The concept of phase is also applied generally to any periodically varying phenomenon, as the cycle of daylight. One person who speeps during the day and another who sleeps at noght may be said to be out of phase with each other."  [PJC]

phase, v. t. [Cf. Feeze.].

 To disturb the composure of; to disconcert; to nonplus; -- an older spelling, now replaced by faze.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

phase, n. & v.
--n.
1 a distinct period or stage in a process of change or development.
2 each of the aspects of the moon or a planet, according to the amount of its illumination, esp. the new moon, the first quarter, the last quarter, and the full moon.
3 Physics a stage in a periodically recurring sequence, esp. of alternating electric currents or light vibrations.
4 a difficult or unhappy period, esp. in adolescence.
5 a genetic or seasonal variety of an animal's coloration etc.
6 Chem. a distinct and homogeneous form of matter separated by its surface from other forms.
--v.tr. carry out (a programme etc.) in phases or stages.

Idiom

in phase having the same phase at the same time. out of phase not in phase. phase in (or out) bring gradually into (or out of) use. phase rule Chem. a rule relating numbers of phases, constituents, and degrees of freedom. three-phase (of an electric generator, motor, etc.) designed to supply or use simultaneously three separate alternating currents of the same voltage, but with phases differing by a third of a period.

Derivative

phasic adj.

Etymology

F phase & f. earlier phasis f. Gk phasis appearance f. phaino phan- show

THESAURUS

phase

angle, appearance, aspect, color, complexion, condition, configuration, development, discontinue, ease off, effect, eidolon, end, facet, fashion, feature, figure, form, gestalt, guise, hand, image, imago, impression, include, incorporate, inject, insert, insinuate, juncture, light, likeness, lineaments, look, manner, moment, occasion, period, phase in, phase out, phasis, point of view, position, posture, reference, regard, remove, respect, seeming, semblance, shape, side, simulacrum, situation, slant, stage, state, status, step, style, taper off, time, total effect, twist, usher in, view, viewpoint, wind up, wise, withdraw, work in

ROGET THESAURUS

phase

Circumstance

N circumstance, situation, phase, position, posture, attitude, place, point, terms, regime, footing, standing, status, occasion, juncture, conjunctive, contingency, predicament, emergence, emergency, exigency, crisis, pinch, pass, push, occurrence, turning point, bearings, how the land lies, surroundings, context, environment, location, contingency, dependence (uncertainty), causation, attribution, circumstantial, given, conditional, provisional, critical, modal, contingent, incidental, adventitious, limitative, in the circumstances, under the circumstances, the circumstances, conditions, thus, in such wise, accordingly, that being the case, such being the case, in view of the circumstances, that being so, sith, since, seeing that, as matters stand, as things go, as times go, conditionally, provided, if, in case, if so, if so be, if it be so, depending on circumstances, in certain circumstances, under certain conditions, if it so happen, if it so turn out, in the event of, in such a contingency, in such a case, in such an event, provisionally, unless, without, according to circumstances, according to the occasion, as it may happen, as it may turn out, as it may be, as the case may be, as the wind blows, pro re nata, yet are my sins not those of circumstance.

Conversion

N conversion, reduction, transmutation, resolution, assimilation, evolution, sea change, change of state, assumption, naturalization, transportation, development, developing, conversion of currency, exchange of currency, exchange rate, bureau de change, chemistry, alchemy, progress, growth, lapse, flux, passage, transit, transition, transmigration, shifting, phase, conjugation, convertibility, crucible, alembic, caldron, retort, convert, pervert, renegade, apostate, converted into, convertible, resolvable into, transitional, naturalized, gradually, &c (slowly) 275 in transitu.

Form

N form, figure, shape, conformation, configuration, make, formation, frame, construction, cut, set, build, trim, cut of one's jib, stamp, type, cast, mold, fashion, contour, structure, plasmature, feature, lineament, turn, phase, posture, attitude, pose, morphism, isomorphism, forming, formation, figuration, efformation, sculpture, plasmation, formed, plastic, fictile, formative, fluid, plasmic, isomorphous, pleomorphic, protean, changeable.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.