— 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.