PHASE


Meaning of PHASE in English

— phaseless , adj. — phasic, phaseal , adj.

/fayz/ , n. , v. , phased, phasing .

n.

1. any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind.

2. a stage in a process of change or development: Each phase of life brings its own joys.

3. a side, aspect, or point of view: This is only one phase of the question.

4. a state of synchronous operation: to put two mechanisms in phase.

5. Astron.

a. the particular appearance presented by the moon or a planet at a given time.

b. 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. See diag. under moon .

6. Zool. See color phase .

7. Chem. a mechanically separate, homogeneous part of a heterogeneous system: the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of a system.

8. 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°.

v.t.

9. to schedule or order so as to be available when or as needed.

10. to put in phase; synchronize: to phase one mechanism with another.

11. phase down , to reduce by gradual stages.

12. phase in , to put or come into use gradually; incorporate by degrees: to phase in new machinery.

13. phase out , to bring or come to an end gradually; ease out of service: to phase out obsolescent machinery.

[ 1805-15; (n.) back formation from phases, pl. of PHASIS ]

Syn. 1. form, shape; facet, side.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .