triode

tri·ode  (trd) n. A highly evacuated electron tube containing an anode, a cathode, and a control grid.

triode

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triode [ˈtraɪəʊd]

n

1. (Electronics) an electronic valve having three electrodes, a cathode, an anode, and a grid, the potential of the grid controlling the flow of electrons between the cathode and anode. It has been replaced by the transistor

2. (Electronics) any electronic device, such as a thyratron, having three electrodes

[tri- + electrode]

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triode  (trd)

An electron tube used mostly for signal amplification, consisting of a cathode and anode (or plate) as in a diode, and an intervening wire mesh called the control grid. With little voltage on the grid, large currents can flow between the cathode and plate, but small variations in the voltage on the grid cause large variations in this current, allowing for large amplification of a signal applied to the control grid. See also pentodetetrode

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

triode - a thermionic vacuum tube having three electrodes; fluctuations of the charge on the grid control the flow from cathode to anode which makes amplification possible 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