phase transition

American  

[fayz-tran-zish-uhn] / ˈfeɪz trænˌzɪʃ ən /

noun

• phase transitions
  plural

1. Physical Chemistry. the change from one phase of a substance to another, such as from solid to liquid.

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phase transition Scientific  

1. A change in a feature of a physical system that results in a discrete transition of that system to another state. For example, the melting of ice is a phase transition of water from a solid phase to a liquid phase. Phase transitions often involve the absorption or emission of energy from the system; ice, at 0 ° Celsius, must absorb a considerable amount of heat energy to become water.

2. See also state of matter thermodynamics

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• phase transitions
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phase transition

These included metals such as copper, noble gases under extreme pressure such as argon in crystalline state, and the complex solid-solid phase transition of tin.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 2026

Thermodynamic measurements revealed a clear phase transition, showing that the system entered a magnetically ordered state.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 21, 2026

Understanding the electromagnetic properties of the QGP may help physicists unravel the mysteries of the phase transition between QGP and ordinary nuclear matter made of protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily ● May 17, 2024

The agents change from a disordered to an ordered state in what is called a "phase transition."

From Science Daily ● Apr. 26, 2024

In this there is no phase transition or supercooling.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking