ETYM New Lat. phasis, Greek, from phainein to make to appear: cf. French phase. Related to Phenomenon, Phantom, and Emphasis.
See Moon.
(Homonym: faze).
1. A particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle; SYN. phase angle.
2. Any distinct time period in a sequence of events; SYN. stage.
3. (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.
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).
A time based relationship between a periodic function and a reference. In electricity, it is expressed in angular degrees to describe the voltage or current relationship of two alternating waveforms.

A relative measurement that describes the temporal relationship between two signals that have the same frequency. Phase is measured in degrees, with one full oscillation cycle having 360 degrees. The phase of one signal can lead or follow the other by 0 through 180 degrees. See the illustration.
In physics, a stage in an oscillatory motion, such as a wave motion: two waves are in phase when their peaks and their troughs coincide. Otherwise, there is a phase difference, which has consequences in interference phenomena and alternating current electricity.

1. To adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition
2. To arrange in phases or stages: