• noun:   (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"

• noun:   (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"

• noun:   a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle
• noun:   any distinct time period in a sequence of events
• verb:   adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition

  Example: "He phased the intake with the output of the machine"

• verb:   arrange in phases or stages

  Example: "Phase a withdrawal"

Related words...