phase
English
Etymology 1
From New Latin phasis, from Ancient Greek φάσις (phásis, “an appearance”), from φάειν (phaein, “to shine”); compare phantasm and see face.
Pronunciation
Noun
phase (plural phases)
- A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time.
- That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.
- Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view.
- The problem has many phases.
- (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 its enlightened disk; as, the phases of the moon or planets. Illustrated in Wikipedia's article Lunar phase.
- (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.
- (physical 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.
- (rugby union) The period of play between consecutive breakdowns.
- 2011 Septembe 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania”, BBC Sport:
- When Romania did manage to string together some phases midway through the first half, England's discipline held firm, although on the whole it was a less focused display from the Six Nations champions in the second half.
- 2011 Septembe 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania”, BBC Sport:
- (genetics) A haplotype.
Translations
distinguishable part of a sequence
appearance which anything manifests
aspect of an object or view
astronomy: particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle
physics: any one point or portion in a recurring series of changes
haplotype — see haplotype
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Verb
phase (third-person singular simple present phases, present participle phasing, simple past and past participle phased)
- (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.
- Common misspelling of faze.
- (genetics, informal, transitive) To determine haplotypes in (data) when genotypes are known.
Usage notes
See notes at faze.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Latin phase (“passover”), Phasa, from Hebrew פָּסַח (pésach).
Alternative forms
Proper noun
phase