cath·ode (k th  d )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. [Greek kathodos, descent : kat-, kata-, cata- + hodos, way, path.] ca·thod ic (k-th d k) adj.ca·thod i·cal·ly adv. |
cathode [ˈkæθəʊd]
n
1. (Physics / General Physics) the negative electrode in an electrolytic cell; the electrode by which electrons enter a device from an external circuit
2. (Physics / General Physics) the negatively charged electron source in an electronic valve
3. (Physics / General Physics) the positive terminal of a primary cell Compare anode
[from Greek kathodos a descent, from kata- down + hodos way]
cathodal [kæˈθəʊdəl], cathodic [kæˈθɒdɪk -ˈθəʊ-], cathodical adj
| 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. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| 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 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 |
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