n. 1. the stage of meiosis or mitosis when chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ A contraction of enchase. ] 1. To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut, so as to make a screw thread. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chased p. pr. & vb. n. Chasing. ] [ OF. chacier, F. chasser, fr. (assumed) LL. captiare, fr. L. captare to strive to seize. See Catch. ] 1. To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, or game; to hunt. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are those which chased you from the field. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Philologists, who chase
A panting syllable through time and place. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as, to chase the hens away. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chased by their brother's endless malice from prince to prince and from place to place. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chasing each other merrily. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v. ] 1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a hunt. “This mad chase of fame.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

You see this chase is hotly followed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is pursued or hunted. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,
For I myself must hunt this deer to death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private property, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed. Sometimes written chace. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Court Tennis) A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chase gun (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel when pursued. --
Chase port (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is fired. --
Stern chase (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel follows directly in the wake of the vessel pursued. --
cut to the chase (Film), a term used in action movies meaning, to shift the scene to the most exciting part, where someone is being chased. It is used metaphorically to mean “get to the main point”. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ F. cháse, fr. L. capsa box, case. See Case a box. ] (Print.) 1. A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) The part of a cannon from the reënforce or the trunnions to the swell of the muzzle. See Cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for the reception of drain tile. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Shipbuilding) A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush joint, by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of clinker-built boats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a person who is being chased; as, better to be the chaser than the chased.
Syn. -- pursued. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. One who or that which chases; a pursuer; a driver; a hunter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) Same as Chase gun, esp. in terms bow chaser and stern chaser. See under Bow, Stern. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who chases or engraves. See 5th Chase, and Enchase. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) A tool with several points, used for cutting or finishing screw threads, either external or internal, on work revolving in a lathe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Elec.) To put out of phase, as two parts of a single alternating current. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enchased p. pr. & vb. n. Enchasing. ] [ F. enchâsser; pref. en- (L. in) + châsse box containing relics, frame, case, the same word as caisse case. See 1st Case, and cf. Chase, Encase, Incase. ] 1. To incase or inclose in a border or rim; to surround with an ornamental casing, as a gem with gold; to encircle; to inclose; to adorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enchased with a wanton ivy twine. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

An precious stones, in studs of gold enchased,
The shaggy velvet of his buskins graced. Mickle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To chase; to ornament by embossing or engraving; as, to enchase a watch case. [ 1913 Webster ]

With golden letters . . . well enchased. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To delineate or describe, as by writing. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All which . . . for to enchase,
Him needeth sure a golden pen, I ween. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who enchases. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Frank free + chase. ] (Eng. Law) The liberty or franchise of having a chase; free chase. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Obs. ] See Haze, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or, more fully, or }. (Law) A contract (more fully called contract of hire with an option of purchase) in which a person hires goods for a specified period and at a fixed rent, with the added condition that if he shall retain the goods for the full period and pay all the installments of rent as they become due the contract shall determine and the title vest absolutely in him, and that if he chooses he may at any time during the term surrender the goods and be quit of any liability for future installments upon the contract. In the United States such a contract is generally treated as a conditional sale, and the term hire purchase is also sometimes applied to a contract in which the hirer is not free to avoid future liability by surrender of the goods. In England, however, if the hirer does not have this right the contract is a sale. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. See Enchase. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Multi- + phase. ] Having many phases; specif. (Elec.), pertaining to, or designating, a generator producing, or any system conveying or utilizing, two or more waves of pressure, or electromotive force, not in phase with each other; polyphase. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. Phases [ NL. phasis, Gr. fa`sis, fr. fai`nein to make to appear: cf. F. phase. See Phenomenon, Phantom, and Emphasis. ] 1. That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Phys. Chem.) A homogenous, physically distinct portion of matter in a system not homogeneous; as, the three phases, ice, water, and aqueous vapor; in a mixture of gasoline and water, the gasoline will settle as the upper phase. A phase may be either a single chemical substance or a mixture, as of gases. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

6. (Zool.) 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. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

7. (Physics) 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°. 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 concept of phase is also applied generally to any periodically varying phenomenon, as the cycle of daylight. One person who sleeps during the day and another who sleeps at night may be said to be out of phase with each other. [ PJC ]

8. Specifically: (Elec.) 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 being four right angles, or 360°. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ Cf. Feeze. ] To disturb the composure of; to disconcert; to nonplus; -- an older spelling, now replaced by faze. [ Colloq., Archaic ]
Syn. -- faze. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

. (Elec.) The angle expressing phase relation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A machine for converting an alternating current into an alternating current of a different number of phases and the same frequency. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A charge of phase whereby an alternating current attains its maximum later or earlier. An inductance would cause a lag, a capacity would cause an advance, in phase. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To begin an activity or to incorporate new elements or replace older elements of an activity in steps, or by degrees. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. phaselus, phaseolus, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;: cf. F. phaséole, faséole. Cf. Fesels. ] The French bean, or kidney bean. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a phase, or visible form. [ R. ] “A phaseless and increasing gloom.” Poe. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or }, n. (Elec.) A device for measuring the difference in phase of two alternating currents of electromotive forces. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖prop. n. [ L. ] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous plants, including the Lima bean, the kidney bean, the scarlet runner, etc. See Bean. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called because found in the unripe fruit of the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). ] (Chem.) Same as Inosite. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To halt (an activity) in steps, or gradually; as, to phase out use of 386-based PC's. [ PJC ]

. (Phys. Chem.) A generalization with regard to systems of chemical equilibrium, discovered by Prof. J. Willard Gibbs. It may be stated thus: The degree of variableness (number of degrees of freedom) of a system is equal to the number of components minus the number of phases, plus two. Thus, if the components be salt and water, and the phases salt, ice, saturated solution, and vapor, the system is invariant, that is, there is only one set of conditions under which these four phases can exist in equilibrium. If only three phases be considered, the system is univariant, that is, the fixing of one condition, as temperature, determines the others. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) A device by which a single-phase current is split into two or more currents differing in phase. It is used in starting single-phase induction motors. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. (Elec.) The dephasing of the two parts of a single alternating current in two dissimilar branches of a given circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Poly- + phase. ] (Elec.) Having or producing two or more phases; multiphase; as, a polyphase machine, a machine producing two or more pressure waves of electro-motive force, differing in phase; a polyphase current. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Elec.) A machine generating more than one pressure wave; a multiphaser. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Purchased p. pr. & vb. n. Purchasing. ] [ OE. purchasen, porchacen, OF. porchacier, purchacier, to pursue, to seek eagerly, F. pourchasser; OF. pour, por, pur, for (L. pro) + chacier to pursue, to chase. See Chase. ] 1. To pursue and obtain; to acquire by seeking; to gain, obtain, or acquire. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

That loves the thing he can not purchase. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your accent is Something finer than you could purchase in so removed a dwelling. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His faults . . . hereditary
Rather than purchased. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To obtain by paying money or its equivalent; to buy for a price; as, to purchase land, or a house. [ 1913 Webster ]

The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth. Gen. xxv. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To obtain by any outlay, as of labor, danger, or sacrifice, etc.; as, to purchase favor with flattery. [ 1913 Webster ]

One poor retiring minute . . .
Would purchase thee a thousand thousand friends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A world who would not purchase with a bruise? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To expiate by a fine or forfeit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) (a) To acquire by any means except descent or inheritance. Blackstone. (b) To buy for a price. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To apply to (anything) a device for obtaining a mechanical advantage; to get a purchase upon, or apply a purchase to; as, to purchase a cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To put forth effort to obtain anything; to strive; to exert one's self. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Duke John of Brabant purchased greatly that the Earl of Flanders should have his daughter in marriage. Ld. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To acquire wealth or property. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sure our lawyers
Would not purchase half so fast. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. purchds, F. pourchas eager pursuit. See Purchase, v. t. ] 1. The act of seeking, getting, or obtaining anything. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll . . . get meat to have thee,
Or lose my life in the purchase. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of seeking and acquiring property. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The acquisition of title to, or properly in, anything for a price; buying for money or its equivalent. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is foolish to lay out money in the purchase of repentance. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is obtained, got, or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition. Chaucer. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

We met with little purchase upon this coast, except two small vessels of Golconda. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

A beauty-waning and distressed widow . . .
Made prize and purchase of his lustful eye. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which is obtained for a price in money or its equivalent. “The scrip was complete evidence of his right in the purchase.” Wheaton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Any mechanical hold, or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle, capstan, and the like; also, the apparatus, tackle, or device by which the advantage is gained. [ 1913 Webster ]

A politician, to do great things, looks for a power -- what our workmen call a purchase. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) Acquisition of lands or tenements by other means than descent or inheritance, namely, by one's own act or agreement. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Purchase criminal, robbery. [ Obs. ] Spenser. --
Purchase money, the money paid, or contracted to be paid, for anything bought. Berkeley. --
Worth [ so many ] years' purchase, or
At [ so many ] years' purchase, a phrase by which the value or cost of a thing is expressed in the length of time required for the income to amount to the purchasing price; as, he bought the estate at a twenty years' purchase. To say one's life is
not worth a day's purchase in the same as saying one will not live a day, or is in imminent peril. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who purchases; one who acquires property for a consideration, generally of money; a buyer; a vendee. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) One who acquires an estate in lands by his own act or agreement, or who takes or obtains an estate by any means other than by descent or inheritance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. re- + chase: cf. F. rechasser. ] To chase again; to chase or drive back. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of repurchasing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To buy back or again; to regain by purchase. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A purchaser who buys from a purchaser; one who buys at second hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

a., /mhw>, n. (Elec.) Same as Diphase, Diphaser. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

The amount that is yielded by the annual income of property; -- used in expressing the value of a thing in the number of years required for its income to yield its purchase price, in reckoning the amount to be paid for annuities, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]