Main Entry: phase

Pronunciation: \ˈfāz\

Function: noun

1 : a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes
2 : a distinguishable part in a course, development, or cycle <the early phases of a disease>
3 : a point or stage in the period of a periodic motion or process (as a light wave or a vibration) in relation to an arbitrary reference or starting point in the period
4 : a homogeneous, physically distinct, and mechanically separable portion of matter present in a nonhomogeneous physicochemical system ; especially : one of the fundamental states of matter usually considered to include the solid, liquid, and gaseous forms
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