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cathode
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cath- (alternative form of cata-) + -ode.
Pronunciation
Noun
cathode (plural cathodes)
- (electricity) An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
- (by extension) The electrode at which chemical reduction of cations takes place, usually resulting in the deposition of metal onto the electrode.
- (electronics) The electrode from which electrons are emitted into a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube.
- (electronics) That electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the n-type material of a p-n junction.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
electrode through which current flows outward
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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French
Pronunciation
Noun
cathode f (plural cathodes)
Derived terms
Descendants
- → Romanian: catod
Further reading
- “cathode”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
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