anode

noun an·ode \ ˈa-ˌnōd \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of anode

1 : the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs: such as

a : the positive terminal of an electrolytic cell

b : the negative terminal of a galvanic cell

2 : the electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube; broadly : the positive electrode of a diode — compare cathode

—

anodic

play \a-ˈnä-dik\ or less commonly anodal play \-ˈnō-dᵊl\ adjective

—

anodically

play \-di-k(ə-)lē\ or less commonly anodally play \-dᵊl-ē\ adverb

See anode defined for English-language learners

See anode defined for kids

Recent Examples of anode from the Web

Getting these molecules across that barrier is energy expensive, which ensures that no reactions take place at the anode.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "New lithium-air battery survives hundreds of cycles," 22 Mar. 2018
The core innovation is building anodes, one of the main components of any battery, primarily from silicon.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "Lithium-Silicon Batteries Could Give Your Phone 30% More Power," 18 Mar. 2018
First, some science: Every lithium-ion battery has an anode and a cathode.

— christopher mims, WSJ, "The Battery Boost We’ve Been Waiting for Is Only a Few Years Out," 18 Mar. 2018
Ars has written about many of them: a new zinc anode, a high-temperature liquid metal pump, light-weight vehicle concepts.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Trump really wants to kill ARPA-E; federal agency says that’s folly," 14 Mar. 2018
The electricity flows through the pipeline itself, with the rectifier on one end of a pipeline segment and a buried bed of anodes on the other.

— bobby magill, Popular Mechanics, "How Will the Keystone XL Pipeline Be Built?," 8 Apr. 2013
The movement of electrons from anode to cathode produces an electrical current.

— kathryn free, Popular Mechanics, "A Temporary Tattoo to Track Your Workout and Charge Your Phone," 13 Aug. 2014
Another section of conductive polymer acts as the anode, and a third contains a reservoir for the bacteria and its energy source.

— nathan hurst, Smithsonian, "This Spit-Powered Biobattery Is Made From a Single Sheet of Paper," 30 Jan. 2017
Over time, the transfer of lithium metal between the anode and the cathode can cause increasingly uneven surfaces.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "Toshiba on the Cusp of an EV Battery Capable of 200 Miles of Range after Six-Minute Charge," 23 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anode.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of anode

Greek anodos way up, from ana- + hodos way

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1834

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

ANODE Defined for English Language Learners

anode

noun

Definition of anode for English Language Learners

: the part of an electrical device (such as a battery) from which electrons leave

ANODE Defined for Kids

anode

noun an·ode \ ˈa-ˌnōd \

Definition of anode for Students

1 : the positive electrode of an electrolytic cell

2 : the negative end of a battery that is delivering electric current

3 : the electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube

Medical Dictionary

anode

noun an·ode \ ˈan-ˌōd \

medical Definition of anode

1 : the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs: as

a : the positive terminal of an electrolytic cell

b : the negative terminal of a storage battery that is delivering current

2 : the electron-collecting electrode of an electron tube — compare cathode

Learn More about anode

See words that rhyme with anode Spanish Central: Translation of anode Nglish: Translation of anode for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anode

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up anode? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

anode

Definition of anode

anodic

anodically

Recent Examples of anode from the Web

Origin and Etymology of anode

ANODE Defined for English Language Learners

anode

Definition of anode for English Language Learners

ANODE Defined for Kids

anode

Definition of anode for Students

Medical Dictionary

anode

medical Definition of anode

Learn More about anode

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

April 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Janelle Monáe Out as 'Pansexual'

All the Hits

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes