1. A device that produces a sound effect by splitting an audio signal and delaying one part relative to the other, creating a sweeping or whooshing effect.
Usage: music production; audio engineering
2. A fictional weapon that fires directed energy beams, popularized in science fiction.
Usage: science fiction; informal

Examples

• The guitarist used a phaser effect to create a distinctive swirling sound.
• The producer added a phaser to the vocal track for a modern, spacey texture.
• In Star Trek, the phaser is the standard weapon of Starfleet officers.
• The phaser effect became popular in rock and electronic music during the 1970s.
• She adjusted the phaser settings to control the depth and speed of the effect.