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antiphase

antiphase

9.9
A state when two waves are exactly opposite so they cancel each other
  • noun
  • /ˈæntɪfeɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : antifase
  • The two signals were perfectly antiphase, leading to a complete reduction in the overall amplitude.
  • antiphase coordination
  • phase and antiphase

Examples

  • When sound waves travel in antiphase, they cancel each other out, resulting in silence.

  • In particular, the most recent temperature oscillations in Greenland between 16,000 and 11,000 years ago are in antiphase with those observed in central Antarctica.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The two independent subsystems are set in antiphase motion to begin with, and then X3 is introduced at about repetition 35 of the cycle.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The hemispheres respond in antiphase with a see-saw redistribution of heat due to large and rapid changes in ocean currents.

    Blog text (15)
  • The two forms of coupling generally result in either in-phase (bottom left) or antiphase (bottom right) coordination of the oscillators.

    Academic text (2006)
  • And if there is the slightest connection between the two resources, say through very weak competition, the system would be driven back into its antiphase-coordinated state (Vandermeer 2004).

    Academic text (2006)
  • There is no inherent reason why X3 needs to be either in-phase or antiphase coordinated with either X1 or X2, which leads to the possibility that the two main systems could be in-phase coordinated, thus leaving a space for the third species to invade.

    Academic text (2006)
  • A useful metaphor for this phenomenon is the coupled oscillating pendulum model, in which it is easy to see how either in-phase or antiphase coordination is driven by the specific nature of the coupling (Figure 2c).

    Academic text (2006)
  • To achieve optimal performance, the devices must operate in antiphase to minimize interference.

Surface Forms

antiphase singular
antiphases plural

Morphology

antiphase = phase (semi-transparent) = anti + phase

The parts clearly mean 'opposite phase', but the specialized scientific sense is not fully obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Antiphase comes from anti- 'against' and phase 'stage'. It names the state when two waves are exactly opposite so their highs meet lows and they cancel each other out, which explains why antiphase means a condition of reduction or cancellation.