Phases

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Phasis \Pha"sis\, n.; pl. {Phases}. [NL.]
     See {Phase}. --Creech.
     [1913 Webster] Phasm