Word
cathode
Phoneticscath·ode
US/ˈkæˌθoʊd/
UK/kˈæθəʊd/
Definitions
01electrical terminal
n. the part of a battery or electrical part where the positive current flows out.
n. the electrode of an electrochemical cell or polarized device through which positive electric current flows outward, corresponding to an inward flow of electrons.
“In a standard battery, the cathode is the positive end that you connect to your device.”
“During the discharge of a galvanic cell, the cathode acts as the positive terminal where the reduction reaction occurs.”
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02vacuum tubes
n. the part in a vacuum tube or old TV screen that sends out electrons.
n. the electrode in a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube that serves as the source of emitted electrons.
“Old television sets used a cathode ray tube to beam images onto the screen.”
“The heated cathode emits a stream of electrons which are then accelerated toward the anode to create a functional circuit within the vacuum.”
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“AO is notoriously oxidative, corroding metal electrodes, acceleration grids and even the cathodes used in standard Hall thrusters or other types of ion engines.” “That level of performance placed it among the strongest cathode materials reported for this type of battery.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/cathode