opposite-phase
|op-po-site-phase|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑpə.zɪt feɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈɒpə.zɪt feɪz/
phase reversed / 180° out of phase
Etymology
'opposite-phase' originates from Modern English, composed of the adjective 'opposite' and the noun 'phase'. 'opposite' ultimately comes from Latin via Old French, and 'phase' comes from Greek via scientific Latin/Modern French.
'opposite' comes from Latin 'oppositus' (past participle of 'opponere') through Old French into Middle English as 'opposite'; 'phase' comes from Greek 'phasis' (appearance, manifestation) via New Latin/ Modern scientific usage into English; the compound 'opposite-phase' formed in Modern English by combining the two.
Individually, 'opposite' originally meant 'placed against' or 'set against' and 'phase' meant 'appearance' or 'stage'; together in scientific contexts they developed the specialized meaning 'having a reversed phase (about 180° apart)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a relationship between two signals or waves in which they are in opposite phase (i.e., 180° apart).
An opposite-phase between the tracks made the mix sound hollow when summed to mono.
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Adjective 1
having a phase difference of approximately 180 degrees relative to another waveform or signal; effectively 'out of phase', so that corresponding peaks align with troughs.
The two speakers were wired opposite-phase, causing severe cancellation in the center.
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Last updated: 2025/10/20 01:03