phase (EN)

noun, verb

noun “phase”

1. a specific part within a series or cycle that happens over time
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   The caterpillar is in the larval phase before it becomes a butterfly.
2. in astronomy, the different appearances of a celestial body as seen from Earth, depending on its illuminated portion
   During a lunar eclipse, we can observe the moon going through various phases until it is completely shadowed.
3. in chemistry, a distinct part of a material defined by its chemical composition, physical state, or crystal structure, separated from other parts by clear changes in these properties
   In water, ice represents a solid phase distinct from its liquid phase, separated by a clear change in physical state.
4. in electrical engineering, one of the wires in a multi-wire electrical system, or the current that flows through it
   During the installation, the electrician carefully connected each phase of the three-phase power supply to the building's main electrical panel.
5. in mathematics, the angle indicating the position of a complex number in relation to the real number line
   In our math class, we learned how to calculate the phase of a complex number to determine its position on the complex plane.
6. in music, a type of sound distortion that happens when different frequencies travel at different speeds
   During the concert, the guitarist's pedal malfunctioned, introducing an unwanted phase distortion that made the solo sound off.
7. in genetics, a specific combination of alleles or genetic sequence
   In their study on genetic inheritance, the researchers discovered that siblings can inherit different phases of a haplotype from their parents.

verb “phase”

1. to gradually start or stop doing something over time
   The company decided to phase in remote working options over the next six months while phasing out mandatory office attendance.
2. to move through solid objects
   During the magic show, the magician amazed the audience by phasing his hand through a solid wall.
3. in science fiction, to attack or defend using a fictional weapon called a phaser
   The captain ordered his crew to phase the enemy ship before it could escape.