ENGLISH
REFERENCE

electrode

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪˈɫɛktɹoʊd// UK //ɪlˈɛktɹəʊd// elec·trode

n. a small piece of metal or wire that carries electricity into or out of something. You often see them used in batteries or attached to a person's skin for medical tests.

n. a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region. Often used in the context of electrochemical cells or medical diagnostic equipment.


SIMPLE

The doctor attached an electrode to my chest.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers placed a gold electrode into the solution to measure the change in voltage during the experiment.

COMPLEX

The efficiency of the fuel cell depends heavily on the surface area of the electrode, as a larger area allows for more frequent chemical interactions.

Origin

Coined by British scientist Michael Faraday in 1833, first used in his Diary (laboratory notebook) from the Ancient Greek words ἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron, “amber”) (from which the word electricity is derived) and ὁδός (hodós, “way”). By surface analysis, electro- + -ode

Usage

Commonly used in technical and scientific contexts; often paired with 'positive' or 'negative'.

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