Definition of “phase” - English Dictionary

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“phase” in English

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phasenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /feɪz/ us ​ /feɪz/

B2 any stage in a series of events or in a process of development:

The project is only in its initial phase as yet, but it's looking quite promising.
We're entering a new phase in international relations.

B2 a period of strange or difficult behaviour that will stop after a while, especially a period that a young child or person goes through:

When I was in my early teens I went through a phase of only ever wearing black.

› The phases of the moon are the regular changes in its shape as it appears to us on earth.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

in phase/out of phase

phaseverb [ T often passive ]

uk ​ /feɪz/ us ​ /feɪz/

Phrasal verb(s)

phase sth in
phase sth out

(Definition of “phase” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“phase” in American English

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phasenoun [ C ]

us ​ /feɪz/

› any stage in a series of events or in a process of development:

The project is only in its first phase of planning, so we haven’t yet established the cost.

› The phases of the moon are the regular changes in its shape as it appears to people on earth.

› physics A phase is one of the forms in which matter can exist, such as solid, liquid, or a gas.

› physics A phase is also one of the stages or points in a repeating process measured from a specific starting point.

(Definition of “phase” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“phase” in Business English

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phasenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /feɪz/ us ​

› a stage in a series of events or in a process of development:

the early/final/late phase The inflation rate is high, even for the early phase of an economic expansion.
The project is only in the initial phase, but it's looking quite promising.
We're entering a new phase in international relations.
the design/development/manufacturing phase After two years of discussion, the project is still at the development phase.
the growth/start-up phase The merger has helped with the growth phase of our strategy.

phaseverb [ T, often passive ]

uk ​ /feɪz/ us ​

› to introduce something in stages over a particular period of time:

be phased over 6 months/2 years, etc. The closure of the regional offices was phased over an 18-month period and affected 435 staff.

Phrasal verb(s)

phase sth down
phase sth in
phase sth out

(Definition of “phase” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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