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Alter vs Phase - What's the difference?

alter | phase |

As an adjective alter

is .

As a noun phase is

phase.

alter

English

Alternative forms

* altre (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To change the form or structure of.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxxxix. 34
  • My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
  • * Shakespeare
  • No power in Venice can alter a decree.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • It gilds all objects, but it alters none.
  • To become different.
  • To tailor clothes to make them fit.
  • To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
  • (obsolete) To agitate; to affect mentally.
  • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * alterer * alterability * alterative * alterable * alterably

    Anagrams

    * * * * * ----

    phase

    English

    Etymology 1

    From ; compare phantasm and see face.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time.
  • That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.
  • Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view.
  • The problem has many phases .
  • (astronomy) A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form, or the absence, of its enlightened disk; as, the phases of the moon or planets''. Illustrated in .
  • (physics) 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.
  • (chemistry) A component in a material system that is distinguished by chemical composition and/or physical state (solid, liquid or gas) and/or crystal structure. It is delineated from an adjoining phase by an abrupt change in one or more of those conditions.
  • (rugby union) The period of play between consecutive breakdowns.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=Septembe 24 , author=Ben Dirs , title=Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=When Romania did manage to string together' some ' phases midway through the first half, England's discipline held firm, although on the whole it was a less focused display from the Six Nations champions in the second half.}}
  • (genetics) A haplotype.
  • Verb

    (phas)
  • To begin—if construed with "in"—or to discontinue—if construed with out—(doing) something over a period of time (i.e. in phases).
  • The use of the obsolete machines was gradually phased''' out as the new models were '''phased in.
  • (genetics, informal, transitive) To determine haplotypes in (data) when genotypes are known.
  • To pass into or through a solid object.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Usage notes
    See notes at faze .
    Derived terms
    * phase in * phase out * unphased

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * Phase

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • (obsolete) Passover
  • References

    Anagrams

    * * * English terms with homophones ----