You often would’ve heard phase and faze, in different contexts. People often say I got phased out or why you got fazed out. What phased out and fazed out mean? Read the article to learn the meaning of phase and faze, their origin, their specific use, and phase vs faze comparison.
1. Meaning of Phase in English
To differentiate phase vs faze, let us first understand what is the meaning of phase. According to the dictionary, phase is a noun or a verb depending upon its usage in the sentence. It refers to a time period that is observed by a subject or that happens on an object. It is often preceded with words like in and out in order to rectify the stage. For example, if say phase-in or phase-out, the meaning would imply that something is going to enter a particular zone or stage or exit it respectively. And the sentences would be like:
- I think I am ready to phase into the group since I am done with the work. This shows that subject would enter the stage or group in this context.
- I just phased out of the class, I was thinking of something. This implies the stage, which is the class here, was phased out by the subject as he was daydreaming.
Phase is not only limited to English Literature but to divisions of Science like Physics and Chemistry as discussed in the next segment. (See What is the meaning of the word “fugazy”?)
2. Phase in Physics
In physics, a phase is treated as a wave and is often denoted with a periodic function and real-time passed. It reflects the difference as well as the relation between two entities. For example, voltage and time, amplitude and frequency, etc. There are of a different kind as they are required differently by each entity. The phase is used to predict the nature and co-relation of those two entities. There are different formulas to determine the same. (See How Does A Remote Control Work?)
3. Phase in Chemistry
In chemistry, it deals more with the study of physical science. The meaning of phase in chemistry feels more in line with the dictionary meaning of the word phase, although not quite clear. Here, phase is referred to as a physical state of matter that anybody conducts and exists within the space-time continuum. There are various kinds of phases that any matter in the physical world can inhabit. It means that the change in the state of matter is also called a phase and thus, explains how phase got its meaning. (See 5 Fun Kitchen Science Experiments)
4. The History of Term Phase
It was not outright defined rather subtly used in various forms of writings. It was first used in Latin literature in 1705, where the word was used to describe and quoted as a phase of the moon or its different appearance. The moon was compared to women’s beauty as well. Earlier, it was also used with the words phasis having the same meaning as it has now. Later, it was used in Latin to describe the beauty of the moon and the constant look of the sun.
5. Meaning of Faze
Next, we need to learn what does the word faze mean in order to differentiate between phase vs faze. Faze is not a cleared-out dictionary word but rather a placeholder word to replace it with another, more suitable word. To faze means to cause some kind of discomfort to a subject or an object. I was fazed out by the poor conditions of the hotel, this means the hotel wasn’t good but our subject wasn’t displeased completely. (See What Does The Word “Danke” Mean?)
6. The History of Term Faze
Since the word faze is a placeholder, you might wonder about the use of such a word. The word faze is a fairly new term and more of a replacement of the word feeze which is now obsolete and is considered incorrect by the dictionary. It would also show an error if you use the word. It did make it appearance in the 1400s when it meant to drive someone or something away. (See Let the Cat Out of the Bag Origin)
7. Phase vs Faze
As we are reaching the end of the article, you are pretty clear about the meaning of phase and faze including their history & origin. An interesting fact, faze is a homophone of the word phase but it’s not true vice-versa. A homophone is a group of two words that sound similar, but their spelling and meaning are quite different from each other. (See Who Invented The English Alphabet?)
