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   phase

   /feɪz/

   noun

   • 1. a distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development: "the final phases of the war" Similar stageperiodchapterepisodepartsteppointtimejuncture
   • ▪ a stage in a person's psychological development, especially a period of temporary difficulty during adolescence or a particular stage during childhood: "most of your fans are going through a phase" Similar periodstagetimespellinformal:patch
   • ▪ each of the separate events in an eventing competition.
   • 2. each of the aspects of the moon or a planet, according to the amount of its illumination, especially the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the last quarter. Similar aspectshapeformappearancestatecondition
   • 3. a genetic or seasonal variety of an animal's coloration: "the invertebrate residents of the tundra pass the winter in dormant phase"
   • 4. a distinct and homogeneous form of matter (i.e. a particular solid, liquid, or gas) separated by its surface from other forms: "solid carbon dioxide passes directly into the gas phase without becoming a liquid"
   • 5. the relationship in time between the successive states or cycles of an oscillating or repeating system (such as an alternating electric current or a light or sound wave) and either a fixed reference point or the states or cycles of another system with which it may or may not be in synchrony: "there are two output channels, one fixed in phase and the other variable in phase between 0 and 360 degrees"
   • ▪ each of the electrical windings or connections of a polyphase machine or circuit.
   • 6. (in systemic grammar) the relationship between a catenative verb and the verb that follows it, as in she hoped to succeed and I like swimming.
   • ▪ a structure containing two verbs in a phase.

   verb

   • 1. carry out (something) in gradual stages: "the work is being phased over a number of years"
   • 2. adjust the phase of (something), especially so as to synchronize it with something else: "about 70% of the reflections were phased by this method"

   Word Origin mid 17th century (in phase (sense 2 of the noun)): from French phase and late Latin phasis, based on Greek phasis ‘appearance’, from the base of phainein ‘to show’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

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