phase
UK: feɪz | US: feɪz
n. a distinct stage in a process of change or development
n. (physics) a particular stage in a periodic cycle or waveform
vt. to carry out systematically in stages
phase = phas<appearance> + e (silent)
- phas: From Greek phasis ("appearance, phase of the moon"), derived from phainein ("to show, appear").
- e: Silent letter in English, retained from Latin/Greek spelling conventions.
Etymology Origin:
The word phase traces back to Greek astronomy, where phasis referred to the cyclical "appearance" of the moon’s stages. Latin adopted it as phasis, and by the 19th century, English generalized it to mean any developmental stage. The silent -e preserves the word’s Greco-Latin heritage without phonetic function.
The project will be completed in three phases.
The moon’s phases influence tidal patterns.
We need to phase the implementation carefully.
Adolescence is a challenging phase of life.
The sound waves are out of phase, causing interference.