cathode

cath·ode  (kthd)

n. Abbr. ka

1. A negatively charged electrode, as of an electrolytic cell, a storage battery, or an electron tube.

2. The positively charged terminal of a primary cell or a storage battery that is supplying current.

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[Greek kathodos, descent : kat-, kata-, cata- + hodos, way, path.]

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ca·thodic (k-thdk) adj.

ca·thodi·cal·ly adv.

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cathode

Noun

Electronics the negative electrode in an electrolytic cell or in an electronic valve or tube [Greek kathodos a descent]

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cathode  (kthd)

1. The negative electrode in an electrolytic cell, toward which positively charged particles are attracted. The cathode has a negative charge because it is connected to the negatively charged end of an external power supply.

2. The source of electrons in an electrical device, such as a vacuum tube or diode.

3. The positive electrode of a voltaic cell, such as a battery. The cathode gets its positive charge from the chemical reaction that happens inside the battery, not from an external source. Compare anode.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	cathode - a negatively charged electrode that is the source of electrons entering an electrical device cold cathode - a cathode that is a source of electrons without being heated electrode - a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit electrolytic cell - a cell containing an electrolyte in which an applied voltage causes a reaction to occur that would not occur otherwise (such as the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen) photocathode - a cathode that emits electrons when illuminated electron tube, thermionic tube, thermionic vacuum tube, thermionic valve, vacuum tube, tube - electronic device consisting of a system of electrodes arranged in an evacuated glass or metal envelope anode - a positively charged electrode by which electrons leave an electrical device
	2.	cathode - the positively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current storage battery, accumulator - a voltaic battery that stores electric charge depot, terminal, terminus - station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods galvanic cell, primary cell, voltaic cell - an electric cell that generates an electromotive force by an irreversible conversion of chemical to electrical energy; cannot be recharged anode - the negatively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current

Translations

cathode [ˈkæθəud] n → cathode f

cathode [ˈkæθəud] n → Kat(h)ode f

cathode [ˈkæθəud] n → catodo