Phrase vs. Phase — What's the Difference?

A group of words that function as a unit in syntax.

A temporary mood or condition.

A short expression or saying.

A stage in the life cycle of something.

A specific group of words in a language.

A particular appearance or state in a repeated cycle.

A manner or style of speaking or writing.

A distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development

A sequence of musical notes.

Each of the aspects of the moon or a planet, according to the amount of its illumination, especially the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the last quarter.

In syntax and grammar, a phrase is a group of words which act together as a grammatical unit. For instance, the English expression "the very happy squirrel" is a noun phrase which contains the adjective phrase "very happy".

A genetic or seasonal variety of an animal's coloration

A sequence of words that have meaning, especially when forming part of a sentence.

A distinct and homogeneous form of matter (i.e. a particular solid, liquid, or gas) separated by its surface from other forms

A characteristic way or mode of expression

The relationship in time between the successive states or cycles of an oscillating or repeating system (such as an alternating electric current or a light or sound wave) and either a fixed reference point or the states or cycles of another system with which it may or may not be in synchrony

A brief, apt, and cogent expression

(in systemic grammar) the relationship between a catenative verb and the verb that follows it, as in she hoped to succeed and I like swimming.

(Music) A short passage or segment, often consisting of four measures or forming part of a larger unit.

Carry out (something) in gradual stages

A series of dance movements forming a unit in a choreographic pattern.

Adjust the phase of (something), especially so as to synchronize it with something else

To express orally or in writing

A distinct stage of development

To divide (a passage) into phrases.

A temporary manner, attitude, or pattern of behavior

To combine (notes) in a phrase.

An aspect; a part

To make or express phrases.

One of the cyclically recurring apparent shapes of the visibly illuminated portion of the moon or a planet.

(Music) To perform a passage with the correct phrasing.

The relative configuration, measured in angular units such as degrees or radians, of two orbiting bodies that periodically eclipse.

A short written or spoken expression.

A particular stage in a periodic process or phenomenon.

(grammar) A word or, more commonly, a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, usually consisting of a head, or central word, and elaborating words.

The fraction of a complete cycle elapsed as measured from a specified reference point and often expressed as an angle.

(music) A small section of music in a larger piece.

Any of the forms or states, solid, liquid, gas, or plasma, in which matter can exist, depending on temperature and pressure.

(archaic) A mode or form of speech; diction; expression.

A discrete homogeneous part of a material system that is mechanically separable from the rest, as is ice from water.

(dance) A short individual motion forming part of a choreographed dance.

(Biology) A characteristic form, appearance, or stage of development that occurs in a cycle or that distinguishes some individuals of a group

(transitive) To express (an action, thought or idea) by means of particular words.

To plan or carry out systematically by phases.

To perform a passage with the correct phrasing.

To set or regulate so as to be synchronized.

To divide into melodic phrases.

To become incorporeal so as to be able to move through a solid object

A brief expression, sometimes a single word, but usually two or more words forming an expression by themselves, or being a portion of a sentence; as, an adverbial phrase.

A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time.

A short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human.

That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.

A mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression.

Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view.

A short clause or portion of a period.

(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. Illustrated in Wikipedia's article Lunar phase.

To express in words, or in peculiar words; to call; to style.

(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.

To use proper or fine phrases.

(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.

An expression forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence but not containing a finite verb

(zoology) In certain organisms, one of two or more colour variations characteristic of the species, but independent of the ordinary seasonal and sexual differences, and often also of age.

A short musical passage

(rugby union) The period of play between consecutive breakdowns.

An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

(genetics) A haplotype.

Put into words or an expression;

(math) The arctangent of the quotient formed by dividing the imaginary part of a complex number by the real part.

(music) A distortion caused by a difference in the speed of propagation for different frequencies

(electrical engineering) In a polyphase electrical power system, one of the power-carrying conductors, or the alternating current carried by it.

To begin—if construed with "in"—or to discontinue—if construed with out—(doing) something over a period of time (i.e. in phases).

Antique form of faze.

To determine haplotypes in (data) when genotypes are known.

To pass into or through a solid object.

(science fiction) To use a phaser.

(obsolete) Passover

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; as, the problem has many phases.

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.

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.

A homogenous, physically distinct portion of matter in a system not homogeneous; as, the three phases, ice, water, and aqueous vapor. A phase may be either a single chemical substance or a mixture, as of gases.

In certain birds and mammals, one of two or more color variations characteristic of the species, but independent of the ordinary seasonal and sexual differences, and often also of age. Some of the herons which appear in white and colored phases, and certain squirrels which are sometimes uniformly blackish instead of the usual coloration, furnish examples. Color phases occur also in other animals, notably in butterflies.

The relation at any instant of a periodically varying electric magnitude, as electro-motive force, a current, etc., to its initial value as expressed in factorial parts of the complete cycle. It is usually expressed in angular measure, the cycle beb four right angles, or 360°. Such periodic variations are generally well represented by sine curves; and phase relations are shown by the relative positions of the crests and hollows of such curves. Magnitudes which have the same phase are said to be in phase.

The relation at any instant of any cyclically varying physical quantity, such as voltage in an A.C. circuit, an electromagnetic wave, a sound wave, or a rotating object, to its initial value as expressed as a fractional part of the complete cycle. It is usually expressed in angular measure, the complete cycle being 360°.

To disturb the composure of; to disconcert; to nonplus; - an older spelling, now replaced by faze.

(physical chemistry) a distinct state of matter in a system; matter that is identical in chemical composition and physical state and separated from other material by the phase boundary;

Any distinct time period in a sequence of events;

A particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle

(astronomy) the particular appearance of a body's state of illumination (especially one of the recurring shapes of the part of Earth's moon that is illuminated by the sun);

Arrange in phases or stages;

Adjust so as to be in a synchronized condition;

A distinct period or stage in a process.

A stage of a periodic process.

Yes, e.g., "It's just a phase he's going through."

A phrase doesn't have both a subject and verb, while a sentence does.

Yes, larger processes can have sub-stages or phases within a primary phase.

Often, but not always. Some phases can be long-term.

No, "Phase" can be used in various contexts, including personal development and business.

Yes, idioms are a type of phrase.

Not typically, as most phrases lack a subject, verb, or both.

No, it refers to a way of expressing something.

No, "Phrase" is used in everyday language, music, and other contexts too.

Generally, but it can also describe stages without a set order.

Look for groups of words that function together but may lack a subject or verb.

Yes, all languages have phrases or groupings of words that convey ideas.

Yes, but with a different meaning, e.g., phasing effects in audio production.

Yes, both describe distinct stages or periods.

No, phrases can be literal or figurative.