PHASE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does phase mean? 

• PHASE (noun)
  The noun PHASE has 4 senses:

1. any distinct time period in a sequence of events

2. (physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary

3. a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle

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)

  Familiarity information: PHASE used as a noun is uncommon.

• PHASE (verb)
  The verb PHASE has 2 senses:

1. arrange in phases or stages

2. adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition

  Familiarity information: PHASE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PHASE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any distinct time period in a sequence of events

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

phase; stage

Context example:

we are in a transitional stage in which many former ideas must be revised or rejected

Hypernyms ("phase" is a kind of...):

period; period of time; time period (an amount of time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phase"):

safe period (that time during a woman's menstrual cycle during which conception is least likely to occur (usually immediately before of after menstruation))

seedtime (any time of new development)

apogee; culmination (a final climactic stage)

generation (a stage of technological development or innovation)

luteal phase; secretory phase (the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation; the corpus luteum secretes progesterone which prepares the endometrium for the implantation of an embryo; if fertilization does not occur then menstrual flow begins)

musth (an annual phase of heightened sexual excitement in the males of certain large mammals (especially elephants); is associated with discharge from a gland between the eye and ear)

menstrual phase (the phase of the menstrual cycle during which the lining of the uterus is shed (the first day of menstrual flow is considered day 1 of the menstrual cycle))

fertile period; fertile phase (the time in the menstrual cycle when fertilization is most likely to be possible (7 days before to 7 days after ovulation))

incubation ((pathology) the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear)

chapter (any distinct period in history or in a person's life)

phallic phase; phallic stage ((psychoanalysis) the third stage in a child's development when awareness of and manipulation of the genitals is supposed to be a primary source of pleasure)

oral phase; oral stage ((psychoanalysis) the first sexual and social stage of an infant's development; the mouth is the focus of the libido and satisfaction comes from suckling and chewing and biting)

latency period; latency phase; latency stage ((psychoanalysis) the fourth period (from about age 5 or 6 until puberty) during which sexual interests are supposed to be sublimated into other activities)

genital phase; genital stage ((psychoanalysis) the fifth sexual and social stage in a person's development occurring during adolescence; interest focuses on sexual activity)

anal phase; anal stage ((psychoanalysis) the second sexual and social stage of a child's development during which bowel control is learned)

zygotene (the second stage of the prophase of meiosis)

phase of cell division (a stage in meiosis or mitosis)

pachytene (the third stage of the prophase of meiosis)

leptotene (the first stage of the prophase of meiosis)

diplotene (the fourth stage of the prophase of meiosis)

diakinesis (the final stage of the prophase of meiosis)

Derivation:

phase (arrange in phases or stages)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

form; phase

Context example:

the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system

Hypernyms ("phase" is a kind of...):

state; state of matter ((chemistry) the three traditional states of matter are solids (fixed shape and volume) and liquids (fixed volume and shaped by the container) and gases (filling the container))

Domain category:

physical chemistry (the branch of chemistry dealing with the physical properties of chemical substances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phase"):

dispersed particles; dispersed phase ((of colloids) a substance in the colloidal state)

dispersing medium; dispersing phase; dispersion medium ((of colloids) a substance in which another is colloidally dispersed)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

phase; phase angle

Hypernyms ("phase" is a kind of...):

point; point in time (an instant of time)

Holonyms ("phase" is a part of...):

cycle; rhythm; round (an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs)

Derivation:

phase (adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(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)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the full phase of the moon

Hypernyms ("phase" is a kind of...):

appearance; visual aspect (outward or visible aspect of a person or thing)

Domain category:

astronomy; uranology (the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phase"):

phase of the moon (a time when the Moon presents a particular recurring appearance)

• PHASE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they phase    / phase    ... he / she / it phases    / phases   
Past simple: phased    / phased   
Past participle: phased    / phased   
-ing form: phasing    / phasing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Arrange in phases or stages

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

phase a withdrawal

Hypernyms (to "phase" is one way to...):

arrange; stage (plan, organize, and carry out (an event))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

phase (any distinct time period in a sequence of events)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

he phased the intake with the output of the machine

Hypernyms (to "phase" is one way to...):

sync; synchronise; synchronize (make synchronous and adjust in time or manner)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

phase (a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle)

 Context examples 

Infrared measurements from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope showed that the system's star is surrounded by a thin disk of planetary debris, indicating that its planet-formation phase is wrapping up.

(NASA's K2 Finds Newborn Exoplanet Around Young Star, NASA)

Additionally, andrographolide may exert its anti-cancer activity through the induction of cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and the stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation and activation.

(Andrographolide, NCI Thesaurus)

That transition is among the most important transformations between phases (solids, liquids and gases) on our planet, where it has unique effects on climate while regulating the viability of life.

(Scientists probe the limits of ice, National Science Foundation)

At the end of the red giant phase of a star, these forces become unbalanced.

(Hubble Views Final Stages of a Star’s Life, ESA/NASA)

Mercury will be retrograde most of the month, a phase he started on October 31 and will continue until November 20.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Inhibition of tubulin polymerization may result in G2/M phase arrest and tumor cell apoptosis.

(Anti-CD19 Antibody-Drug Conjugate SGN-CD19A, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon proteolytic cleavage, MMAE binds to tubulin and inhibits its polymerization, resulting in G2/M phase arrest and tumor cell apoptosis.

(Anti-CD22 Monoclonal Antibody-MMAE Conjugate DCDT2980S, NCI Thesaurus)

Occurring in or characterized by only one phase or stage.

(Monophasic, NCI Thesaurus)

G2/M Arrest consists of cellular biochemical mechanisms, responsive to diverse conditions, that control cellular transition from the G2 to M phase of the cell cycle.

(Negative Regulation of G2 to M Transition, NCI Thesaurus)

After binding to CD30, this agent interferes with the G1 phase of the cell cycle, thereby inducing growth arrest and apoptosis in susceptible tumor cell populations.

(Monoclonal Antibody SGN-30, NCI Thesaurus)