| phase modulation |
in radio transmission, variation of the phase of a carrier wave in accordance with the amplitude of a modulating signal such as speech. |
| phase-out |
a gradual withdrawal or termination of operations, production, services, or the like. |
| Ph.D. |
abbreviation of "philosophiae doctor" (Latin); Doctor of Philosophy. |
| pheasant |
any of a number of fowls that have long tails and characteristically bright feathers in the male. |
| phellem |
a layer of dead cells that forms in the bark of woody plants; cork. |
| phellogen |
in woody plants, a tissue layer that lies just beneath the outer bark and generates the outer bark cells; cork cambium. |
| phenacetin |
acetophenetidin. |
| phenix |
variant of phoenix. |
| pheno- |
shining; showing. [2 definitions] |
| phenobarbital |
an odorless white crystalline powder that is used as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic. |
| phenocopy |
an environmentally produced change in an organism, similar to a mutation but nonhereditary. |
| phenocryst |
a large and usu. conspicuous crystal embedded in volcanic rock containing many such crystals. |
| phenol |
a poisonous white acidic compound found in the tars of wood and coal, or derived from benzene, and used primarily as a disinfectant or antiseptic. [2 definitions] |
| phenolphthalein |
a white or pale yellow crystalline powder that is used in making dyes and as an acid-base indicator and a laxative. |
| phenom |
(slang) an outstandingly talented person, esp. in sports or music. |
| phenomena |
a pl. of phenomenon. |
| phenomenal |
amazing or extraordinary. [3 definitions] |
| phenomenology |
the philosophical study of phenomena, esp. of subjective perceptual experience, as distinguished from ontology, the study of being. |
| phenomenon |
a perceptible occurrence or fact. [3 definitions] |
| phenothiazine |
a greenish organic compound used to expel intestinal worms in domestic animals, as an insecticide, and in the synthesis of tranquilizers. |
| phenotype |
the observable traits of an individual or group, esp. as a function of genetic composition and environment. (Cf. genotype.) [2 definitions] |