PHASE


Meaning of PHASE in English

I. ˈfāz noun

( -s )

Usage: usually capitalized

Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek phasech, phasek, from Hebrew pesaḥ — more at pasch

: passover — so translated in the Douay Version of the Bible

II. noun

( -s )

Etymology: New Latin phasis, from Greek, appearance of a star, phase of the moon, from phainein to show — more at fancy

1. astronomy : a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form of illuminated disk (as of a planet, the moon)

2.

a. : a stage or interval in a development or cycle : a subdivision or an activity or operation on the basis of time, place, or accomplishment

the assembly phase of production — advt

the way children develop and the different phases they go through — Dorothy Barclay

the final phase of a war

addition of a left-turn phase to the … intersection traffic light — Amarillo (Texas) Sunday News-Globe

b. : an aspect or part (as a situation or activity) being subjected to consideration

the moral phase of the problem — John Dewey

engaged in several phases of transportation in the course of his career — Current Biography

monographs which take up special phases of life within the localities — C.L.Jones

3. : the point or stage in a period in uniform circular motion, simple harmonic motion, or the periodic changes of any magnitude varying according to a simple harmonic law (as sound vibrations, alternating currents, or electric oscillations) to which the rotation, oscillation, or variation has advanced considered in its relation to a standard position or assumed instant of starting and expressed in angular measure with one cycle or period being 360 degrees

4.

a. : a homogeneous, physically distinct, and mechanically separable portion of matter that is present in a nonhomogeneous physical-chemical system and that may be either a single compound or a mixture — compare state 2a

water exists in the solid phase as ice, in the liquid as water, and in the gaseous as water vapor or steam

b. : a part of a soil unit or type varying slightly from the normal in the characteristics used in its classification

5. : an individual or subgroup distinguishably different in appearance or behavior from the norm of the group to which it belongs

the gregaria phase of a grasshopper

also : the distinguishing peculiarity

the silver phase of the red fox

an avirulent phase of Brucella abortus

— compare color phase

6. : a unit of classification in the Midwestern system for American archaeology constituting a group of aspects having in common a significant number of those features determinative of type — see pattern ; compare component , focus

Synonyms:

aspect , side , facet , angle : phase may apply to a manifestation of change or to a stage in growth or development

the phases of the moon

the red fox shows various color phases

another war, he explained recently, would be likely to start with an opening phase of unparalleled intensity — A.P.Ryan

felt that one phase of his poetic development was completed — Douglas Cleverdon

aspect may also suggest an appearance showing a change or stage, sometimes a minor or superficial one; it is frequently used to indicate changes in the observer's point of view or specific compartmenting of his notions

the lower part of the basin of the Tweed takes on a kindly aspect of ploughed land, grass fields — L.D.Stamp

from a certain aspect it is acceptable for the artist to ignore his public — Huntington Hartford

only the military side of European defense will be considered, leaving the economic aspects for a later article — S.B.Fay

side in this sense may be interchangeable with phase and aspect but is likely to suggest more forcefully the existence of an opposed or tangential point of view

I have shown you only one side, or rather one phase, of her — Edith Wharton

asked to be allowed to tell his own side of the story

the history as a whole is deficient on the economic side — Allen Johnson

facet implies a multiplicity of other faces or sides comparable to the one singled out for attention

the facets of a cut diamond

his talk revealed every facet of his glittering, bizarre personality, his wit, his scholarship, his quick, penetrating intellect, his delight in the use of decorative, high-sounding words, his love of the ornate and picturesque — Alvin Redman

conferences of the chief departmental officers of the railways are regularly held, including accounts, advertising, engineering, traffic, stores — in fact every conceivable facet of railway operation — O.S.Nock

angle may suggest concentration on one restricted specific viewpoint

much safer from the technical angle, but terrible for the actors — Denis Johnston

views these developments from a fresh angle — Dumas Malone

- in phase

- out of phase

III. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

1. : to adjust so as to be in phase

the phasing of the recorder to the incoming signals — M.G.Artzt

2.

a. : to conduct or carry out by especially planned phases

a phased advance, with coordination between units — Time

fundamental approach in the phased march toward “socialized agriculture” — H.R.Lieberman

drastic plan for phased disarmament in all weapons — M.W.Straight

b. : to schedule (as operations) or contract for (as goods or services) to be performed or supplied as required

guiding industry to phase its development programs — Barbara Ward

could talk their language — production phasing, subcontracting — Time

construction power was phased along with combat power — J.L.Collins

3. : to introduce (as into a system, plan, or operation) in stages

the new weapons and methods will be phased into the system — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin

phase … the establishment of a neutral zone — H.W.Baldwin

— often used with in

phase in reinforcements in accordance with tactical plans

new-model autos are now being phased in

IV.

variant of faze

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.