cathode

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cath=ode

CIDE DICTIONARY

cathode, n. [Gr. descent; down + way.].

 The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode.  Faraday.  [1913 Webster]

Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical discharge<-- X-ray -->.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cathode, n. (also kathode) Electr.
1 the negative electrode in an electrolytic cell or electronic valve or tube.
2 the positive terminal of a primary cell such as a battery (opp. ANODE).

Idiom

cathode ray a beam of electrons emitted from the cathode of a high-vacuum tube. cathode-ray tube a high-vacuum tube in which cathode rays produce a luminous image on a fluorescent screen.

Usage

Abbr.: CRT.

Derivative

cathodal adj. cathodic adj.

Etymology

Gk kathodos descent f. kata down + hodos way