Phase

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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.

2. Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases.

3. 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.

4. 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.