Main Entry: ¹phase

Pronunciation: \ˈfāz\

Function: noun

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

Date: circa 1750

1 : a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes <phases of the moon>
2 a : a distinguishable part in a course, development, or cycle <the early phases of her career> b : an aspect or part (as of a problem) under consideration
3 : the point or stage in a period of uniform circular motion, harmonic motion, or the periodic changes of any magnitude varying according to a simple harmonic law to which the rotation, oscillation, or variation has advanced from its standard position or assumed instant of starting
4 : a homogeneous, physically distinct, and mechanically separable portion of matter present in a nonhomogeneous physicochemical system
5 : an individual or subgroup distinguishably different in appearance or behavior from the norm of the group to which it belongs; also : the distinguishing peculiarity

— pha·sic \ˈfā-zik\ adjective

— in phase : in a synchronized or correlated manner

— out of phase : in an unsynchronized manner : not in correlation