phase
n 1 : a particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes 2 : a distinguishable part in a course, development, or cycle <the early s of a disease> 3 : a point or stage in the period of a periodic motion or process (as a light wave or a vibration) in relation to an arbitrary reference or starting point in the period 4 : a homogeneous, physically distinct, and mechanically separable portion of matter present in a nonhomogeneous physicochemical system : esp : one of the fundamental states of matter usu. considered to include the solid, liquid, and gaseous forms 5 : an individual or subgroup distinguishably different in appearance or behavior from the norm of the group to which it belongs : also : the distinguishing peculiarity .
Similar sounding terms: face FAS FHS fos·sa
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