phase

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a stage in a process of change or development: during the first / next / last phase * the initial / final phase of the project * a critical / decisive phase * the design phase * His anxiety about the work was just a passing phase. * She's going through a difficult phase. * The wedding marked the beginning of a new phase in Emma's life. 2 each of the shapes of the moon as we see it from the earth at different times of the month: the phases of the moon IDIOMS in phase / out of phase (with sth) (BrE) working/not working together in the right way: The traffic lights were out of phase. verb [VN] [usuallypassive] to arrange to do sth gradually in stages over a period of time: the phased withdrawal of troops from the area * Closure of the hospitals was phased over a three-year period. PHRASALVERBS phase sth<->in to introduce or start using sth gradually in stages over a period of time: The new tax will be phased in over two years. phase sth<->out to stop using sth gradually in stages over a period of time: Subsidies to farmers will be phased out by the year 2000.