phase

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /feɪz/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like fez /ɛ/ vs /eɪ/

Freq #4186

Meanings

1

noun
One stage in a series of changes or in a process that happens over time.

The project is now entering its final phase.
2

noun
The shape of the lit part of the moon as it changes through the month.

The full phase of the moon lit up the whole garden.
3

verb
To do something gradually in separate stages.

The company plans to phase the new system in over six months.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one stage in a series of... stage

Word family

Forms phasedphasesphasing

Derived forms acrophaseantiphasebathyphasebiophasebiphasecounterphasedephasediphaseecophaseeigenphaseepiphaseferriphase

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

phase transition
a change between physical states without changing a substance's chemical identity

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Phase entered English from French phase, based on Greek phasis, “appearance.” It first denoted an aspect of the moon and had developed the broader sense “a distinct period” by 1701.

Etymology

From New Latin phasis, from Ancient Greek φάσις (phásis, “an appearance”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to cause to appear”); compare phantasm and see face.

*bʰeh₂- Proto-Indo-European phasis la-new φάσις Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# phase

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /feɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 4186

## Meanings
1. One stage in a series of changes or in a process that happens over time.
2. The shape of the lit part of the moon as it changes through the month.
3. To do something gradually in separate stages.

## Examples
- The project is now entering its final phase.
- The full phase of the moon lit up the whole garden.
- The company plans to phase the new system in over six months.

## Derived Forms
- acrophase
- antiphase
- bathyphase
- biophase
- biphase
- counterphase
- dephase
- diphase
- ecophase
- eigenphase
- epiphase
- ferriphase

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰeh₂-
- Root: phasis
- Root: φάσις

## Etymology
From New Latin phasis, from Ancient Greek φάσις (phásis, “an appearance”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to cause to appear”); compare phantasm and see face.

## AI Etymology
Phase comes from New Latin phasis, from Ancient Greek φάσις (phásis, “an appearance”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to cause to appear”); compare phantasm and see face. The historical chain includes *bʰeh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), phasis (la-new), φάσις (Ancient Greek). In present-day English it covers one stage in a series of changes or in a process that happens over time, the shape of the lit part of the moon as it changes through the month, and to do something gradually in separate stages. The wider family includes derived forms such as acrophase, antiphase, bathyphase, biophase, biphase.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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