Definition of "three-phase" [three-phase]

• In electricity, pertaining to or employing a system of electric distribution in which are used three alternating currents differing in phase from one another by one third of a period, so that they reverse in direction successively at equal intervals of time: that is, first current 1, then current 2, then 3, then again 1, etc., reverses.

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "To that end, Otwoma's group is conducting a three-phase program to study environmental, economic and technical issues of nuclear power, with the aim of constructing one or more reactors within 15 years."
• "Stephen Johnson outlined in a January 2008 letter to Bush a three-phase plan for tackling climate change that included strict new restrictions on power plants and transportation fuels."
• "Already, the Indian government has taken steps to tap this renewable energy through the creation of the National Solar Mission in 2009, which takes a three-phase approach to increase solar power use and generation across the country."