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three-phase

American

[three-feyz] / ˈθriˌfeɪz /

adjective

Electricity.

of or relating to a circuit, system, or device that is energized by three electromotive forces that differ in phase by one third of a cycle or 120°.
having three phases.

three-phase British

adjective

(of an electrical system, circuit, or device) having, generating, or using three alternating voltages of the same frequency, displaced in phase by 120°

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of three-phase

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We won 15 lower house seats out of 16 places in Yangon region," they added, after Kawhmu and dozens of other constituencies voted on Sunday in the second stage of a three-phase election.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

Using advanced microscopy, the researchers identified a three-phase sequence that coral fragments follow when attaching to the reef surface.

From Science Daily • Oct. 29, 2025

The 19 January ceasefire deal was thrashed out over many months, with US, Qatari and Egyptian mediation, and a detailed three-phase plan for how the truce should move forward.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2025

More daunting still, these disputes concern the first phase of what is to be a three-phase deal.

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2024

The systems of generation and distribution are generally 10,000 or 11,000 volts three-phase alternating current.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023