Library / English Dictionary

PHASE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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)

Example:

the full phase of the moon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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)

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

Example:

the reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system

Synonyms:

form; phase

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

Synonyms:

phase; phase angle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

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:

Any distinct time period in a sequence of events

Example:

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

Synonyms:

phase; stage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition

Example:

he phased the intake with the output of the machine

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Arrange in phases or stages

Example:

phase a withdrawal

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Condensed chromosomes observed during the M phase of the cell cycle.

(Mitotic Chromosome, NCI Thesaurus)

MMAF binds to and inhibits tubulin polymerization, resulting in G2/M phase arrest and tumor cell apoptosis.

(Anti-ENPP3 Antibody-Drug Conjugate AGS-16C3F, NCI Thesaurus)

A phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia in which the disease is progressing.

(Accelerated phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, NCI Dictionary)

Mrs. Micawber, tapping at the wall again to know if tea were ready, broke up this particular phase of our friendly conversation.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The new phases of things leave my mind in a state of wonder which allows no room for active thought.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Regulated interactions of matrix proteins with each other, DNA and other factors in different phases of the cell cycle alter the structure and function of chromatin.

(AKAP8 in Mitosis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

This agent's cytotoxicity is maximal during the S phase of the cell cycle when topoisomerase levels are greatest.

(Amsacrine, NCI Thesaurus)

Because the arabinose sugar sterically hinders the rotation of the molecule within DNA, DNA replication ceases, specifically during the S phase of the cell cycle.

(Ancitabine, NCI Thesaurus)

After internalization and proteolytic cleavage, MMAE binds to tubulin and inhibits its polymerization, which results in G2/M phase arrest and tumor cell apoptosis.

(Anti-AGS-5 Antibody-Drug Conjugate ASG-5ME, NCI Thesaurus)

Like vinblastine, anhydrovinblastine targets and binds to tubulin and inhibits microtubule formation, resulting in disruption of mitotic spindle assembly and causing tumor cell cycle arrest in the M phase.

(Anhydrovinblastine, NCI Thesaurus)