phase

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A specific stage or period in a process or development

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

fayz

US device voice

IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈfeɪz

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

A particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle
A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time.
That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.
Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view.

verb

with in or out
To begin—if construed with "in"—or to discontinue—if construed with out—(doing) something over a period of time (i.e. in phases).
To pass into or through a solid object.
proscribed
To frighten or cause hesitation; to daunt, put off (usually used in the negative); to disconcert, to perturb.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty: A2 · Elementary
Frequency: Very Common
Typical Use: Varies by meaning

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

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

Used this way, phase is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This sense is about measurement, so it is used where accuracy is the point.

Emotional tone: Neutral
Formality: Neutral
Intensity: Not strongly marked
How common: Moderately common
Connotation: Matter-of-fact
Usage feel: Neutral and straightforward

Where it naturally appears

Technical/specialist writing
Academic writing

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use phase

“The reaction occurs in the liquid phase of the system.”noun

Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Particular / distinguishable

phase diagramphase anglefirst phasesecond phase

Other combinations

liquid phasephase spacephase transitionnew phase

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

phase inounCompound term
A clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device.
phase i clinical trialnounCompound term
A clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device.
phase iinounCompound term
A clinical trial on more persons than in phase I.
phase ii clinical trialnounCompound term
A clinical trial on more persons than in phase I.
phase iiinounCompound term
A large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects.
phase iii clinical trialnounCompound term
A large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: particular point in the time of a cycle

phase angle

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.