A Topical Dictionary: Search for phase

Dictionary Results For "phase" [?]/[OPML]

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GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Phase \Phase\ (f[=a]z), n.; pl. Phases (f[=a]z"[e^]z). [NL.
phasis, Gr. fa`sis, fr. fai`nein to make to appear: cf. F.
phase. See Phenomenon, Phantom, and Emphasis.]
1. That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which
anything manifests, especially any one among different and
varying appearances of the same object.
[1913 Webster]

2. Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental
apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases.
[1913 Webster]

3. (Astron.) A particular appearance or state in a regularly
recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of
illumination or form of enlightened disk; as, the phases
of the moon or planets. See Illust. under Moon.
[1913 Webster]

4. (Physics) Any one point or portion in a recurring series
of changes, as in the changes of motion of one of the
particles constituting a wave or vibration; one portion of
a series of such changes, in distinction from a contrasted
portion, as the portion on one side of a position of
equilibrium, in contrast with that on the opposite side.
[1913 Webster]

5. (Phys. Chem.) A homogenous, physically distinct portion of
matter in a system not homogeneous; as, the three phases,
ice, water, and aqueous vapor; in a mixture of gasoline
and water, the gasoline will settle as the upper phase. A
phase may be either a single chemical substance or a
mixture, as of gases.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

6. (Zool.) In certain birds and mammals, one of two or more
color variations characteristic of the species, but
independent of the ordinary seasonal and sexual
differences, and often also of age. Some of the herons
which appear in white and colored phases, and certain
squirrels which are sometimes uniformly blackish instead
of the usual coloration, furnish examples. Color phases
occur also in other animals, notably in butterflies.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

7. (Physics) the relation at any instant of any cyclically
varying physical quantity, such as voltage in an A.C.
circuit, an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a
rotating object, to its initial value as expressed as a
fractional part of the complete cycle. It is usually
expressed in angular measure, the complete cycle being
360[deg]. Such periodic variations are generally well
represented by sine curves; and phase relations are shown
by the relative positions of the crests and hollows of
such curves. Magnitudes which have the same phase are said
to be in phase.

Note: The concept of phase is also applied generally to any
periodically varying phenomenon, as the cycle of
daylight. One person who sleeps during the day and
another who sleeps at night may be said to be out of
phase with each other.
[PJC]

8. Specifically: (Elec.) The relation at any instant of a
periodically varying electric magnitude, as electro-motive
force, a current, etc., to its initial value as expressed
in factorial parts of the complete cycle. It is usually
expressed in angular measure, the cycle being four right
angles, or 360[deg].
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Phase \Phase\ (f[=a]z), v. t. [Cf. Feeze.]
To disturb the composure of; to disconcert; to nonplus; -- an
older spelling, now replaced by faze. [Colloq., Archaic]

Syn: faze. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

WordNet phase
n 1: (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; "the reaction occurs in the liquid phase
of the system" [syn: form]
2: any distinct time period in a sequence of events; "we are in
a transitional stage in which many former ideas must be
revised or rejected" [syn: stage]
3: a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from
some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle [syn: {phase
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);
"the full phase of the moon"
v 1: arrange in phases or stages; "phase a withdrawal"
2: adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition; "he phased
the intake with the output of the machine"

Moby Dictionary
angle , appearance , aspect , color , complexion , condition ,
configuration , development , discontinue , ease off , effect , eidolon ,
end , facet , fashion , feature , figure , form , gestalt , guise , hand ,
image , imago , impression , include , incorporate , inject , insert ,
insinuate , juncture , light , likeness , lineaments , look , manner ,
moment , occasion , period , phase in , phase out , phasis ,
point of view , position , posture , reference , regard , remove ,
respect , seeming , semblance , shape , side , simulacrum , situation ,
slant , stage , state , status , step , style , taper off , time ,
total effect , twist , usher in , view , viewpoint , wind up , wise ,
withdraw , work in

Jargon phase 1. n. The offset of one's waking-sleeping schedule with respect
to the standard 24-hour cycle; a useful concept among people who often
work at night and/or according to no fixed schedule. It is not uncommon
to change one's phase by as much as 6 hours per day on a regular basis.
"What's your phase?" "I've been getting in about 8 P.M. lately, but I'm
going to wrap around to the day schedule by Friday." A person who is
roughly 12 hours out of phase is sometimes said to be in `night mode'.
(The term `day mode' is also (but less frequently) used, meaning you're
working 9 to 5 (or, more likely, 10 to 6).) The act of altering one's
cycle is called `changing phase'; `phase shifting' has also been
recently reported from Caltech. 2. `change phase the hard way': To stay
awake for a very long time in order to get into a different phase. 3.
`change phase the easy way': To stay asleep, etc. However, some claim
that either staying awake longer or sleeping longer is easy, and that it
is _shortening_ your day or night that is really hard (see {wrap
around}). The `jet lag' that afflicts travelers who cross many time-zone
boundaries may be attributed to two distinct causes: the strain of
travel per se, and the strain of changing phase. Hackers who suddenly
find that they must change phase drastically in a short period of time,
particularly the hard way, experience something very like jet lag
without traveling.

FOLDOC phase

1. The offset of one's waking-sleeping schedule with respect
to the standard 24-hour cycle; a useful concept among people
who often work at night and/or according to no fixed schedule.
It is not uncommon to change one's phase by as much as 6 hours
per day on a regular basis. "What's your phase?" "I've been
getting in about 8 P.M. lately, but I'm going to wrap around
to the day schedule by Friday." A person who is roughly 12
hours out of phase is sometimes said to be in "night mode".
(The term "day mode" is also (but less frequently) used,
meaning you're working 9 to 5 (or, more likely, 10 to 6).)
The act of altering one's cycle is called "changing phase";
"phase shifting" has also been recently reported from Caltech.

2. "change phase the hard way": To stay awake for a very long
time in order to get into a different phase.

3. "change phase the easy way": To stay asleep, etc. However,
some claim that either staying awake longer or sleeping longer
is easy, and that it is *shortening* your day or night that is
really hard (see wrap around). The "jet lag" that afflicts
travelers who cross many time-zone boundaries may be
attributed to two distinct causes: the strain of travel per
se, and the strain of changing phase. Hackers who suddenly
find that they must change phase drastically in a short period
of time, particularly the hard way, experience something very
like jet lag without travelling.