phase
Plural
phases
1
a distinct period or stage in a sequence of events or development
- The project is currently in its planning phase.
- She went through a rebellious phase during her teenage years.
- The moon enters a different phase each month.
- The company experienced rapid growth during its initial phase.
- This phase of the experiment involves data collection and analysis.
Synonyms:
2
a phase is a distinct form of matter with uniform chemical and physical properties, separated from other forms by boundaries
- Ice, water, and steam are the three phases of H2O.
- The oil and vinegar in the salad dressing remained in separate phases.
- During the cooling process, the metal underwent a phase change.
- Scientists observed the liquid crystal phase under the microscope.
- Mixing salt in water creates a single-phase solution.
Synonyms:
3
a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle
Synonyms:
4
(astronomy) the particular appearance of a body's state of illumination (especially one of the recurring shapes of the part of Earth's moon that is illuminated by the sun)